Don Magruder

By Don Magruder Material cost Inflation Impacts Index over the last 30 days. The RoMac Building Supply Whole House Commodity Index (Index) for February 2026 increased a whopping 2.3 percent to $52,938 over the last month, and it is at the highest level since September 2022. A combination of mill curtailments and shutdowns, along with tariff and duty challenges, is finally catching up with the market despite lackluster housing demand. The latest housing starts announced in January for October...

By Don Magruder The RoMac Building Supply Whole House Commodity Index (Index) for January 2026 began the year with a significant price run-up as lumber markets began to move up in mid-December 2025.  The Index increased 2.7 percent to $51,737, 1.7 percent higher than last January and the highest level since June 2025.  Most builders will experience sticker shock as these new lumber prices work their way through the supply chain.  It appears mills are finally reducing supply; tariffs are...