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In recent weeks, I’ve written several articles dealing with U.S. outsized construction material cost increases. (See and .)

Contractors north of the border, though, I’m sure would like similar data on the Canadian experience. Table 1 is the response.

The U.S. figures on percentage changes in building materials and related cost climbs are derived from the Producer Price Index (PPI) data set calculated and published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The best means to achieve Canadian equivalency is to draw on the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) data set from Statistics Canada.

The most dramatic price increases in Table 1, both year over year and during the last three months for which numbers are available, have been pointed out with red arrows.

Basically, it’s the prices attached to the same components in Canada as in the U.S. that are rapidly sprinting upwards – lumber, plywood and other forestry products; steel and its inputs; gasoline and diesel fuel; and wire and cable made of copper.

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Alex Carrick is Chief Economist for É«ÖÐÉ«. He has delivered presentations throughout North America on the U.S., Canadian and world construction outlooks. Mr. Carrick has been with the company since 1985. Links to his numerous articles are featured on Twitter , which has 50,000 followers.