| The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for construction materials held steady in September after a dropping 0.6% in August. Meanwhile, the measure was up 8.1% from a year earlier, although only 3.3% higher than September 2008. Cement prices, which have generally been falling over the last three years, rose 1.3% after a 2.3% drop in August. This marks the fifth monthly increase this year. Nonetheless, cement prices are down 0.2% since the end of last year, 1.5% since September 2010, and 10.1% since September 2008. |
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