Pricing Updates
Verisk Industry Trends Bulletin Key Pricing Trends
This bulletin gives a brief overview of recent pricing trends in the property insurance, construction, and restoration industries.
As a reporter of market-specific pricing information for repairing or rebuilding structures and replacing personal property, Verisk conducts hundreds of thousands of industry surveys, and reviews millions of data points per year submitted through field estimates written by contractors and adjusters as well as electronic data feeds provided by retail merchants. This extensive library of research enables Verisk to provide a comprehensive report of important industry trends.
Pricing News — 2023 - 3rd Quarter
Materials
Material costs are highly variable and are sometimes impacted by factors such as fuel costs, changes to industry practices, or natural disasters. Verisk closely monitors a wide variety of material costs across the country to ensure its price lists reflect any recent changes to pricing.
In the second quarter of 2023, Verisk observed changes in six key material categories. Interior Trim Material had the largest quarterly increase of 5.22 percent, as well as the largest yearly change, showing an increase of 17.40 percent. Lumber Material had the largest annual decrease of 25.88 percent since July 2022.
The Material Composite Index report tracks a combination of several commonly used material components, including floor covering, paint, and roofing among others. The index showed a 0.06 percent decrease in the second quarter of 2023 and a 3.78 percent decrease since July 2022.
Labour
Verisk’s Pricing Data Services team surveys thousands of contractors across the country each month to determine what they charge for labour. The individual trades that contribute to the Retail Labour Index varied in their percent change over the quarter. When looking at the most common trades, the most significant quarterly change occurred in the labour cost of a Flooring Installer which increased 1.77 percent since July 2023. The Siding Installer had the largest annual change with a 12.52 percent increase.
The Retail Labour Index tracks a combination of several common trades, including floor covering, painting, and roofing. In the second quarter of 2023, the index showed a 1.19 percent cost increase, and since July 2022 the index showed a 7.93 percent cost increase.
The individual trades that contribute to the Retail Labour Index varied in their percent change over the quarter. When looking at all trades, the most significant quarterly change occurred in the labour cost of a Fencing Installer which increased 2.22 percent since April 2023.
Combined Trends
The Combined Labour and Materials report is based on monthly building cost data published by Verisk. It comprises a set of commonly used items and may be used as an indicator of trends within the marketplace. This combination of labour and materials makes up the majority of Verisk price list items. Tracking the percent change for the cost of these items provides a valuable gauge of the general market.
The Combined Labour and Materials report showed an increase of 0.64 percent in the second quarter of 2023 and a 2.78 percent increase since July 2022.
Fuel Costs
Fuel costs are extremely volatile and are a factor in item pricing. High oil prices can push up the price of some raw materials. Fuel prices have increased 5.20 percent over the second quarter of 2023 and have decreased 20.31 percent since July 2022. Verisk’s Pricing Data Services carefully tracks fuel costs to ensure accurate pricing.
Lumber
During the second quarter of 2023 lumber prices have continued to decrease, showing a downward trend of 0.59 percent. Sheathing materials have also decreased 2.74 percent from April 2023 to July 2023.
Basket of Goods
The Basket of Goods reports are also a good indicator of the impact that lumber costs have had on market pricing. Since July 2022, the Basket of Goods Labour & Material report has shown an increase of 2.78 percent. When framing components are removed from this basket of goods, the report shows an increase of 6.63 percent.
Since July 2022, the Basket of Goods Material report has shown a decrease of 3.78 percent. When framing components are removed from this basket of goods, the report shows an increase of 4.09 percent.
Verisk is continually monitoring lumber materials and making warranted adjustments from focused surveys with suppliers for each monthly price list publication.
Where to Learn More
Annual Property Report
Verisk publishes annual property reports focusing on key trends during the previous calendar year. To download a copy of Verisk’s Property Report, please visit the Verisk Property Report page.
Industry Trend Reports
Using Industry Trend Reports, Verisk customers can examine pricing trends on national, state or province, and local levels for key material and labour pricing changes in multiple trades. Trends can be viewed by the month or over extended periods of time. For more information about Verisk’s Industry Trend Reports, or to receive access to them, please contact your sales representative or call 1-800-424-9228.
Pricing Methodology White Paper
For more information about Verisk’s methodology for researching and publishing pricing information, please see the Pricing Research Methodology white paper on the eService Center.
Unless otherwise stated, the values reported in this bulletin are national averages for the United States and will vary from local prices.