Inflation?

[VJW]

Construction Costs Soaring

Despite abundant evidence that the costs of precious metals, heath care insurance, industrial metals, medical care, housing costs, education, and other commodities are all rising at runaway rates, we are still being told that the inflation in the national economy is primarily confined to Food & Energy, and if you just refrain from eating or driving or heating your home, everything is just peachy.

Well, add another broad category to the list:

Ken Simonson, chief economist for The Associated General Contractors of America, issued an analysis this week that compared construction costs over a four-year period from 2001 to 2005:

* Gypsum products were up 21 percent
* Asphalt had climbed 12 percent
* Insulation materials rose 11 percent
* Lumber up 12 percent
* Steel and copper construction products up 62 percent
* PVC plastic up "almost" 100%
* Gypsum -- double-digit increase
* Concrete prices up more than 12 percent
* Diesel fuel up more than 50 percent

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[jmjj215]

Seriously VJW, I mean, come on - why should we worry about the cost of building things? I mean...really...

:P