LBM Dealers Reveal Trend in Product Price Increase  

Building material costs, always a key focus for lumber and building material (LBM) dealers, are tracked by Principia’s ongoing, monthly dealer survey.

LBM dealers were asked, “How has the pricing (the price you pay your suppliers) changed in the last 12 months?” Here are the results:  

Over the course of the last three quarters, Q3 2024 through Q1 2025, dealers have consistently reported an average increase in price, compared to the same period 12 months prior. This is not surprising given the effects of inflation. That said, for the reporting period shown in the chart, the percentage of increase declined slightly in Q4 before rising again in Q1 2025. In short, while price increases appear to ease in Q4 2024, they reverted back to the mean set in Q3.

Principia will continue to track price changes in our dealer, builder and contractor surveys, identifying trends and the possible impact of inflation and other economic conditions.