Materials Prices Drop in June, Escalation Risk Persists

Products directly affected by tariffs moved in the opposite direction. Hot rolled steel bars, plates and structural shapes rose 5.8% for the month. Steel mill products increased 3.6%.

“Aggregate construction input prices receded in June due to the steep decline in oil prices that occurred throughout the month,” Anirban Basu, chief economist at Associated Builders and Contractors, said in a statement. He added that ongoing materials price escalation is likely over the coming months. “Higher input costs will likely weigh on profitability during the second half of 2026,” Basu said.