Dive summary:

• National prices for all construction materials were down 0.1% in April, according to an analysis of consumer price data issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, and nonresidential materials are down by the same margin for the month and 0.4% in the past 12 months.
• Some individual categories were up, including crude energy, softwood lumber (up 33% in 12 months), tar and asphalt products and concrete products.
• Anirban Basu, chief economist for American Builders and Contractors, warned that the seeming stability in the big national number lately may obscure volatility in various materials because of other factors – and that may affect contractors' ability to bid projects.

From the release:

“Only time will tell if materials prices generally remain lower,” said Basu. “However, contractors should not be surprised if nonresidential construction materials prices bounce back significantly over the next several months.” ...