Although we are seeing quite a drop in local building costs – the national average is still elevated over 2008.

With steel leading the way again this month, Engineering News Record reports the following figures for April 2009:

20-CITY:
1913 = 100
April 2009
Index Value
% change
Month
% change
Year
Construction Cost 8528.39 -0.1 +5.1
Common Labor 18015.79 0.0 +5.4
WAGE $/HR. 34.23 0.0 +5.4
20-CITY:
1913 = 100
April 2009
Index Value
% change
Month
% change
Year
Building Cost 4761.05 -0.1 +4.1
Skilled Labor 8112.22 0.0 +4.1
WAGE $/HR. 45.02 0.0 +4.1
20-CITY:
1913 = 100
April 2009
Index Value
% change
Month
% change
Year
Materials 2713.54 -0.3 +3.8
CEMENT $/TON 100.91 -0.8 -0.4
STEEL $/CWT 44.83 -0.2 +8.4
LUMBER $/MBF 411.60 -0.7 -4.2

Read the entire report