Welcome to our eighth Substack blog focused on construction costs. The history of the Engineering News Record (ENR) can be traced back to his 1874. This publication has its roots in his two separate publications, Engineer & Surveyor and The Plumber and Sanitary Engineer. The first issue of the Engineering News-Record was published on his April 5th, 1917. On January 1, 1987, the acronym ENR was adopted as the title of the magazine. The chart below uses data courtesy of his ENR magazine, which is published 26 times a year. Historical data were drawn from microfiche copies of magazines obtained from the New York Public Library. ENR magazines are just a small part of what Engineer News Record has to offer. Readers, especially those interested in engineering and construction, are encouraged to visit his website at ENR for more information.
concrete sand
Concrete sand prices rose +3.1% from last month and rose +50.81% over the past 12 months to a new record high. Like masonry sand, it continues to suffer from global supply shortages (chart below). Watch a conversation with Stanford University geographer and environmental scientist Eric Lambin. Crisis of lack of sand below.
https://news.stanford.edu/2022/07/26/four-questions-eric-lambin-sand-shortage/
masonry sand
Masonry sand has not risen as parabolically as concrete sand, but it is still up +2.1% month-over-month and +27% from last November.
asphalt pavement
The price per ton of ENR’s 20 city average price cutback MC800 ash pavement hit a new record high this summer, although the rate of price gains has slowed. Prices remain up +3.7% over the last 12 months.
crushed stone
The ENR 20 city average price for crushed stone/base course hit a new high in November, up +2.1% from last month and up +22% from this time last year.
portland cement
After reaching record highs, Portland cement prices experienced a shallow pullback in October, but are still rising (+0.7% MOM up). The price has increased +14.40% over the last 12 months.
concrete ready mix
As the price of Concrete Sand increases, so does the price of Concrete Ready Mix (although not at the same pace as it is often mixed with other aggregates). The 20-city average price for Ready Mix Concrete fell slightly this month (down -0.4%), but is still up +7.2% from last November.
Concrete block
The ENR 20 city average price for lightweight concrete blocks has increased +9.39% over the past 12 months after hitting a new high three months ago.
pvc pipe
The ENR 20 city average price for 8 inch PVC water pipe hits another new high this month, up +29.89% from last November.
reinforced concrete pipe
The parabolic rise in 36-inch reinforced concrete pipes continues to rise +2.2% from last month, and (pardon the adjective) is up a whopping +41.6% over the past 12 months.
ductile iron pipe
The ENR 20 city average price for 8 inch ductile iron pipe also hit a new high this month. Up +25.67% over the last 12 months.
copper water pipe
The ENR 20 city average price change rate for 1 1/2 inch copper water pipes continues to decline, with prices pulling back slightly this month but still up +18.32% from this time last year.
corrugated steel pipe
After a period of price volatility, the 20-city average 36-inch corrugated steel pipe price hit a new record high of $41.84 per foot this month, up +5.28% over the past 12 months.
Data courtesy of Engineering News Record
The graphs are courtesy of Optuma, whose graphing software allows anyone to visualize any data. To receive his 30-day trial version of Optuma charting software, please visit:
The Market’s Compass publishes select ENR construction data charts via The Market’s Compass Substack blog every two to three weeks as new data becomes available.