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Price Trends for Federal-Aid Highway Construction


1987 Base Third Quarter 2006


Three-Quarter Moving Index Price Trend

1987 Base

Three-Quarter Moving Index Price Trend for Third Quarter 2006. Graph of Composite Index versus Year from 2001 - 20056 The data can be found in the Price Trends for Federal-Aid Highway Construction - Three-Quarter Moving Index table below

The three-quarter moving composite price index is the weighted average of the indices for three consecutive quarters.

The Composite Bid Price Index is composed of six indicator items: common excavation, to indicate the price trend for all roadway excavation; portland cement concrete pavement and bituminous concrete pavement, to indicate the price trend for all surfacing types; and reinforcing steel, structural steel, and structural concrete, to indicate the price trend for structures. Descriptions of the six indicator items can be found in Federal-aid Policy Guide G-6011-10.

Development of the index is discussed in some detail in PUBLIC ROADS magazines, volume 31, No. 10, October 1961; volume 36, No. 4, October 1970; and volume 45, No. 1, June 1981.

Average contract prices shown herein are based on actual bids and include costs of materials, labor, equipment, overhead and profit.

Disclaimer: The base for each State index is its own particular "market basket" of quantities and costs during the base period. The composite index for each State measures the change in that State's index since base year 1987. (in 1987 each State's index equaled 100). These indices are not to be used for State comparisons.

FHWA guidance calls for data to be provided on all National Highway System projects except those projects with a contract value less than $500,000, or installation of protective devices at railroad grade crossings, or beautification projects. Despite this requirement, FHWA may not receive all data required to be submitted in any year and, in some cases, no data is received from a state for an entire year. In addition, when data are not received in time to be included in the composite price trend for the quarter or year, FHWA routinely includes these data in the subsequent period's reporting. Finally, FHWA performs limited review of data for accuracy and does not verify data entry by its staff. FHWA has not assessed the degree to which these conditions affect reported price trends, although it believes that underreporting is the most material limitation in the quality of the reported data.

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.

Office of Infrastructure,
Office of Program Administration
(202) 366-4636
Publication Number FHWA-IF-07-003
For Official Distribution

Price Trends for Federal-Aid Highway Construction

1987 Base
YearCommon excavationSurfacingStructuresComposite index
Average contract price (cu. yd.)IndexPortland cement concrete 2Bituminous concreteSurfacing indexReinforcing steelStructural steelStructural concreteStructures index
Average contract price (sq. yd.)IndexAverage contract price (ton)IndexAverage contract price (lb.)IndexAverage contract price (lb.)IndexAverage contract price (cu. yd.)Index
1972 .72 29.7 6.42 43.6 9.23 37.5 39.5 .181 41.1 .342 38.6 100.17 41.6 40.7 38.6
1973 .80 33.0 7.00 47.5 10.02 40.7 42.9 .207 47.0 .372 42.0 111.81 46.4 45.4 42.5
1974 1.00 41.2 8.88 60.3 14.74 59.8 60.0 .339 76.9 .551 62.3 136.80 56.8 61.7 57.9
1975 1.03 42.5 8.88 60.3 15.13 61.4 61.0 .297 67.4 .554 62.6 138.76 57.6 60.6 58.1
1976 1.03 42.5 8.92 60.6 14.83 60.2 60.3 .258 58.5 .484 54.7 139.59 58.0 57.2 56.3
1977 1.16 47.8 9.95 67.5 15.47 62.8 64.3 .272 61.7 .520 58.8 143.51 59.6 59.7 59.8
1978 1.54 63.5 11.90 80.8 17.16 69.6 73.3 .316 71.7 .603 68.1 172.41 71.6 70.7 70.7
1979 1.62 66.8 14.02 95.2 21.21 86.1 89.0 .421 95.5 .759 85.8 211.33 87.8 88.6 85.5
1980 1.83 75.5 14.92 101.3 25.29 102.6 102.2 .483 109.6 .941 106.3 226.68 94.1 100.0 97.2
1981 1.76 72.6 14.17 96.2 25.63 104.0 101.4 .438 99.4 .790 89.3 231.64 96.2 94.9 94.2
1982 1.59 65.6 13.03 88.5 24.33 98.7 95.3 .407 92.4 .762 86.1 219.63 91.2 90.0 88.5
1983 1.74 71.8 12.69 86.1 24.27 98.5 94.4 .398 90.3 .708 80.0 213.85 88.8 86.7 87.6
1984 1.90 78.4 13.64 92.6 26.52 107.6 102.7 .409 92.8 .709 80.1 218.02 90.5 88.2 92.6
1985 2.24 92.4 14.31 97.1 28.52 115.7 109.6 .444 100.7 .796 89.9 243.60 101.2 98.1 102.0
1986 2.28 94.0 15.63 106.1 26.48 107.4 107.0 .442 100.3 .850 96.0 236.37 98.2 98.0 101.1
1987 2.42 100.0 14.80 100.0 24.65 100.0 100.0 .441 100.0 .885 100.0 240.81 100.0 100.0 100.0
1988 2.72 112.2 14.33 97.3 24.91 101.1 99.8 .494 112.1 .924 104.4 274.12 113.8 111.0 106.6
1989 2.40 99.0 15.17 103.0 24.08 97.7 99.4 .556 126.2 1.018 115.0 283.40 117.7 118.4 107.7
1990 2.38 98.1 15.91 108.0 24.52 99.5 102.3 .529 120.0 1.010 114.1 286.18 118.8 117.8 108.5
1991 2.32 95.5 16.58 112.5 25.52 103.6 106.5 .505 114.6 1.030 116.4 264.98 110.0 112.5 107.5
1992 2.20 90.8 17.80 120.8 24.66 100.1 106.9 .520 117.9 .916 103.5 259.61 107.8 108.4 105.1
1993 2.50 103.2 18.81 127.7 26.26 106.6 113.5 .467 106.0 .861 97.3 261.89 108.7 105.3 108.3
1994 2.75 113.2 20.88 141.7 27.80 112.8 122.3 .515 116.8 .847 95.7 271.94 112.9 109.0 115.1
1995 2.73 112.8 22.07 149.8 28.87 117.1 127.9 .542 122.9 .922 104.2 302.66 125.7 119.5 121.9
1996 2.92 120.6 19.64 133.3 27.50 111.6 118.7 .581 121.5 1.068 120.7 293.85 122.0 121.6 120.2
1997 2.85 117.6 23.75 161.2 23.39 119.2 133.0 .567 128.7 1.186 134.0 320.90 133.2 132.7 130.6
1998 3.01 124.3 23.65 160.5 25.00 101.4 120.8 .544 123.4 1.111 125.5 337.25 140.0 133.4 126.9
1999 2.93 120.9 23.49 159.5 32.28 130.9 140.3 .554 125.7 1.224 138.3 342.24 142.1 138.3 136.5
2000 3.01 124.1 25.30 171.7 35.15 142.6 152.2 .549 124.6 1.351 152.6 363.66 151.0 146.9 145.6
2001 3.05 125.9 28.21 191.5 34.93 141.7 158.1 .601 136.4 1.201 135.8 339.44 140.9 138.8 144.8
2002 2.94 121.2 25.86 175.5 34.14 138.5 150.7 .610 138.4 1.436 162.2 374.96 155.7 154.5 147.9
2003: 3.45 142.3 23.95 162.6 32.54 132.0 142.1 .718 162.9 1.219 137.8 406.02 158.5 159.5 149.8
2004:First quarter 2.97 122.4 25.78 174.9 33.61 136.4 149.0 .677 153.5 1.140 128.8 370.83 153.9 147.2 144.3
Second quarter 3.32 136.9 30.60 207.7 35.54 144.2 165.0 .786 178.3 2.455 277.4 402.69 167.2 198.2 175.4
Third quarter 3.33 137.5 23.39 158.8 38.14 154.7 156.1 .828 187.9 1.135 128.2 253.35 105.2 125.4 139.8
Fourth quarter 3.58 147.6 29.69 201.6 40.60 164.7 176.8 .941 213.4 1.419 160.4 365.14 151.6 164.5 166.9
Annual 3.29 135.7 26.97 183.1 36.97 149.9 160.8 .815 184.8 1.521 171.9 331.49 137.6 154.7 154.4
2005:First quarter 3.59 147.9 31.49 213.8 39.77 161.3 178.6 1.057 239.8 1.492 168.6 222.72 92.5 137.8 155.9
Second quarter 4.26 175.8 42.67 289.6 43.40 176.1 213.4 1.000 226.8 1.645 185.9 549.70 228.3 216.8 209.2
Third quarter 4.99 205.9 31.58 214.4 54.09 219.4 217.8 .862 195.6 1.717 193.9 507.98 210.9 203.8 209.9
Fourth quarter 3.69 152.3 34.25 232.5 54.36 220.5 224.5 0.827 187.6 1.485 167.8 512.35 212.7 196.6 201.3
Annual 3.99 164.6 33.42 226.8 45.56 184.9 198.6 0.941 213.6 1.571 177.5 394.88 163.9 176.0 183.6
2006:First quarter 4.13 170.4 34.28 232.7 45.99 186.6 201.7 0.795 180.4 1.52 171.8 397.21 164.9 169.4 182.8
Second quarter 3.56 146.9 44.04 298.9 59.03 239.5 259.0 .874 198.2 1.701 192.1 728.51 302.5 255.5 240.6
Third quarter 5.31 218.9 29.60 200.9 57.20 232.1 221.8 .928 210.6 1.985 224.2 416.93 173.1 193.0 208.7
Fourth quarter                              
Annual                              

Annual Price Trends

1987 Base

Annual Price Trends Graph of Composite Index versus Years from 1993 to 2005. Data from above table

Quarterly Price Trends

1987 Base

Annual Price Trends Graph of Composite Index versus Quarter from 2000 to 2006. Data from above table

Price Trends for Federal-aid Highway

Construction Rural and Urban

1987 Base1
YearCommon excavationPortland cement concrete surface 2Bituminous concrete surfaceSurfacing
Average contract price (cu. yd.)IndexAverage contract price (sq. yd.)IndexAverage contract price (ton)IndexIndex
RuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrban
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)
19722 .65 1.01 26.8 41.7 5.96 7.39 40.5 50.2 8.63 10.84 35.0 44.0 36.8 46.0
1973 .72 1.07 29.7 44.1 6.42 8.01 43.6 54.4 9.25 11.70 37.5 47.5 39.5 49.7
1974 .87 1.35 35.9 55.7 8.08 10.55 54.9 71.6 13.53 17.43 54.9 70.7 54.9 71.0
1975 .91 1.51 37.5 62.3 8.16 10.39 55.4 70.5 14.47 17.03 58.7 69.1 57.6 69.6
1976 .93 1.40 38.4 57.7 8.18 10.31 55.5 70.0 14.04 16.85 57.0 68.4 56.5 68.9
1977 1.09 1.46 45.0 60.2 8.83 11.52 59.9 78.2 14.84 17.71 60.2 71.9 60.1 73.9
1978 1.42 1.83 58.6 75.5 10.06 13.78 68.3 93.5 16.47 18.74 66.8 76.0 67.3 81.8
1979 1.45 2.15 59.8 88.7 12.33 16.59 83.7 112.6 20.15 24.37 81.8 98.9 82.4 103.4
1980 1.67 2.25 68.9 92.8 13.89 16.57 94.3 112.5 24.26 27.97 98.4 113.5 97.1 113.2
1981 1.55 2.27 63.9 93.6 13.02 15.32 88.4 104.0 24.63 26.68 99.9 108.2 96.1 106.9
1982 1.48 1.74 61.0 71.8 11.86 14.27 80.5 96.9 23.46 26.41 95.2 107.2 90.4 103.8
1983 1.59 2.10 65.6 86.6 11.83 14.58 80.3 99.0 23.46 26.72 95.2 108.4 90.3 105.3
1984 1.66 2.50 68.5 103.1 12.55 15.77 85.2 107.1 25.58 28.84 103.8 117.0 97.7 113.7
1985 1.85 3.20 76.3 132.0 13.29 15.67 90.2 106.4 27.51 30.89 111.6 125.3 104.6 119.1
1986 1.88 2.95 77.5 121.7 13.63 17.86 92.5 121.2 24.69 30.21 100.2 122.6 97.7 122.1
1987 1.91 3.37 78.8 139.0 13.37 17.06 90.8 115.8 23.39 27.81 94.9 112.8 93.5 113.8
1988 2.00 3.72 82.5 153.4 13.39 15.62 90.9 106.0 23.58 28.14 95.7 114.2 94.1 111.5
1989 2.01 3.20 82.9 132.0 13.56 16.67 92.0 113.2 22.17 28.66 89.9 116.3 90.6 115.3
1990 1.98 3.27 81.6 134.9 14.50 17.43 98.5 118.3 23.20 27.84 94.1 113.0 95.5 114.7
1991 1.98 2.89 81.6 119.2 16.02 17.08 108.8 115.9 24.51 27.63 99.4 112.1 102.5 113.4
1992 1.88 2.91 77.7 120.2 15.97 19.99 108.4 135.7 23.97 26.38 97.3 107.0 100.9 116.4
1993 2.16 3.57 89.2 147.3 18.41 19.50 124.9 132.3 25.86 27.20 104.9 110.4 111.5 117.6
1994 2.20 3.58 90.6 147.8 19.45 22.00 132.0 149.3 26.26 30.89 106.5 125.3 114.9 133.2
1995 2.36 3.94 97.3 162.5 20.63 23.52 140.0 159.6 26.96 32.04 109.4 130.0 119.4 139.7
1996 2.67 3.68 110.3 151.9 19.49 19.76 132.3 134.1 27.31 27.84 110.8 112.9 117.8 119.9
1997 2.47 3.96 102.1 163.4 21.50 27.14 145.9 184.2 27.71 33.48 112.4 135.8 123.4 151.7
1998 2.63 4.51 108.4 186.1 23.14 24.34 157.1 165.2 23.86 28.09 96.8 113.9 116.6 130.8
1999 2.51 4.35 103.7 179.3 23.79 23.05 161.5 156.5 31.44 34.71 127.6 140.8 138.7 145.9
2000 2.67 4.52 110.2 186.2 24.54 27.55 166.6 187.0 34.33 37.82 139.3 153.4 148.2 164.5
2001 2.62 4.93 107.9 203.5 25.59 32.60 173.7 221.3 33.51 39.42 135.9 159.9 148.3 180.1
2002 2.49 4.80 102.7 197.9 22.48 31.73 152.6 215.4 31.78 37.43 128.9 151.9 136.7 172.7
2003 2.82 4.92 116.3 203.0 20.97 27.18 142.4 184.5 33.44 39.19 135.7 158.9 137.9 167.4
2004:First quarter 2.46 5.02 101.4 206.8 23.73 28.05 161.1 190.4 33.08 34.66 134.2 140.6 143.1 156.9
Second quarter 3.10 4.15 127.8 170.9 28.79 32.40 195.4 219.9 32.81 43.61 133.1 176.9 153.6 191.1
Third quarter 2.67 6.26 110.8 258.2 17.54 43.68 119.1 296.5 35.27 43.51 143.1 176.5 135.2 215.9
Fourth quarter 3.13 4.88 129.0 201.4 26.78 32.57 181.8 221.1 38.24 47.27 155.1 191.8 163.9 201.4
Annual 2.82 5.06 116.5 208.7 22.46 33.85 152.5 229.8 34.74 41.91 140.9 170.0 144.7 189.6
2005:First quarter 3.34 4.79 137.7 197.4 29.32 41.03 199.0 278.5 38.29 43.09 155.3 174.8 169.7 208.9
Second quarter 3.16 10.51 130.2 433.4 34.10 44.40 231.5 301.4 40.22 48.79 163.2 197.9 185.6 231.9
Third quarter 4.13 9.52 170.2 392.7 34.99 28.62 237.5 194.3 53.30 55.05 216.2 223.3 223.2 213.8
Fourth quarter 2.85 6.92 117.7 285.2 25.86 52.92 175.6 359.2 46.70 67.79 189.5 275.0 184.9 302.7
Annual 3.26 7.60 134.3 313.4 29.83 38.83 202.5 263.6 42.37 51.16 171.9 207.6 181.9 225.9
2006:First quarter 4.09 4.16 168.8 171.5 30.7 36.75 208.4 249.5 46.59 44.74 189.0 181.5 195.4 203.8
Second quarter 2.86 16.20 117.8 668.2 30.52 55.49 207.2 376.7 54.26 65.87 220.1 267.2 215.9 303.2
Third quarter 4.84 8.33 199.5 343.6 23.41 39.61 158.9 268.9 55.85 61.96 226.6 251.4 204.4 257.1
Fourth quarter                            
Annual                            

1 Base for composite index, 1987, involves 210,078,000 cubic yards of roadway excavation, 30,893,690 square yards of portland cement concrete surfacing with an average thickness of 9 inches, 37,760,443 tons of bituminous concrete surfacing, 577,753,544 pounds of reinforcing steel for structures, 444,924,141 pounds of structural steel and 3,498,333 cubic yards of structural concrete.

2 Starting with 1972, prices for portland cement concrete surfacing reflect adjustments to a standard 9″ thickness in each State. Prices do not include costs for reinforcing steel and joints.

Price Trends for Federal-aid Highway

Construction Rural and Urban

1987 Base1 - Continued
YearStructural reinforcing steelStructural steelStructural concreteStructuresComposite
Average contract price (lb.)IndexAverage contract price (lb.)IndexAverage contract price (cu. yd.)IndexIndexIndexRatio of urban prices
to rural prices
RuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrbanRuralUrban
(1)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)
19722 .178 .182 40.4 41.3 .333 .346 37.6 39.1 100.68 99.66 41.8 41.4 40.5 40.8 36.9 43.0 1.17
1973 .204 .208 46.3 47.2 .391 .355 44.2 40.1 111.48 112.07 46.3 46.5 45.7 45.0 40.8 46.8 1.15
1974 .339 .340 76.9 77.1 .508 .573 57.4 64.7 138.76 135.35 57.6 56.2 60.9 62.0 54.7 64.8 1.18
1975 .287 .307 65.1 65.1 .523 .582 59.1 65.8 135.00 143.27 56.1 59.5 58.4 62.1 54.9 65.2 1.19
1976 .269 .248 61.0 56.3 .478 .488 54.0 55.1 141.20 138.08 58.6 57.3 57.8 56.6 54.4 61.8 1.14
1977 .274 .270 62.2 61.3 .523 .517 59.1 58.4 145.33 141.68 60.3 58.8 60.3 59.1 57.9 65.4 1.13
1978 .323 .309 73.3 70.1 .586 .615 66.2 69.5 173.49 171.30 72.0 71.1 70.7 70.5 67.5 75.9 1.12
1979 .416 .425 94.4 96.4 .768 .753 86.8 85.1 219.07 205.25 91.0 85.2 90.4 87.1 82.5 94.0 1.14
1980 .463 .498 105.1 113.0 .777 1.012 87.8 114.3 241.38 217.76 100.2 90.4 97.8 100.6 93.1 104.6 1.12
1981 .440 .436 99.8 98.9 .773 .800 87.3 90.4 254.71 216.49 105.8 89.9 99.9 91.6 92.9 98.1 1.06
1982 .414 .403 93.9 91.4 .705 .778 79.7 87.9 237.52 210.03 98.6 87.2 92.8 88.1 87.0 92.1 1.06
1983 .391 .402 88.7 91.2 .672 .731 75.9 82.6 217.00 211.84 90.1 88.0 86.1 87.1 84.7 94.5 1.11
1984 .408 .409 92.6 92.8 .667 .724 75.4 81.8 226.17 213.60 93.9 88.7 88.8 87.6 89.4 100.6 1.13
1985 .441 .446 100.1 101.2 .794 .797 89.7 90.1 240.45 245.36 99.8 101.9 97.2 98.6 97.1 112.0 1.15
1986 .448 .440 101.7 99.8 .832 .856 94.0 96.7 260.72 228.50 108.3 94.9 103.4 96.2 97.1 110.7 1.14
1987 .456 .436 103.5 98.9 .848 .900 95.8 101.7 258.21 234.95 107.2 97.6 103.6 98.9 95.7 111.0 1.16
1988 .481 .498 109.1 113.0 .890 .932 100.6 105.3 262.23 278.33 108.9 115.6 106.7 112.4 97.9 118.2 1.21
1989 .495 .576 112.3 130.7 .994 1.026 112.3 115.9 273.78 286.88 113.7 119.1 113.1 120.3 99.4 120.0 1.21
1990 .580 .510 131.6 115.7 .934 1.04 105.6 117.5 297.22 281.33 123.4 116.8 120.1 116.8 104.3 118.7 1.14
1991 .492 .510 111.5 115.7 .939 1.06 106.1 119.8 276.49 259.65 114.8 107.8 111.9 112.3 103.5 113.8 1.10
1992 .482 .530 109.5 120.9 .879 .94 99.3 106.0 281.19 250.79 116.8 104.1 110.9 107.5 101.8 113.1 1.11
1993 .492 .453 111.6 102.7 .859 .863 97.1 97.5 259.52 263.29 107.7 109.3 105.6 105.0 105.5 116.5 1.10
1994 .501 .520 113.7 118.0 .843 .849 95.3 95.9 276.76 269.93 114.9 112.1 109.5 108.8 108.9 124.6 1.14
1995 .503 .561 114.1 127.4 .853 .973 96.3 109.9 272.76 321.85 113.2 133.6 108.9 126.3 111.5 137.2 1.23
1996 .564 .519 127.9 117.7 1.047 1.084 118.3 122.5 301.57 288.80 125.2 119.9 123.9 120.2 119.4 124.9 1.05
1997 .568 .566 128.9 128.5 1.075 1.227 121.5 138.6 307.58 329.17 127.7 136.7 126.3 135.8 121.5 146.5 1.21
1998 .559 .533 126.8 121.0 1.061 1.144 119.9 129.3 354.92 321.48 147.4 133.5 136.6 130.2 124.2 138.9 1.11
1999 .525 .572 119.0 129.9 1.204 1.236 136.0 139.7 325.11 354.40 134.9 147.2 132.5 142.2 130.7 149.3 1.14
2000 .471 .630 106.8 143.0 1.145 1.452 129.4 164.0 365.55 362.09 151.8 150.4 138.2 152.7 138.1 162.6 1.18
2001 .566 .633 128.5 143.7 1.110 1.259 125.4 142.3 326.80 350.77 135.7 145.7 131.8 144.4 134.9 167.9 1.24
2002: .595 .614 134.9 139.2 1.205 1.498 136.1 169.3 389.29 357.51 161.6 148.5 150.3 152.4 137.6 167.6 1.21
2003: .637 .747 144.6 169.4 1.037 1.238 117.1 139.8 401.80 412.66 166.8 171.3 149.9 162.7 139.9 170.7 1.22
2004:First quarter .684 .672 155.3 152.6 1.077 1.146 121.7 129.5 307.21 406.12 127.6 168.6 130.8 155.5 131.4 163.8 1.25
Second quarter .698 .865 158.3 196.4 1.578 2.954 178.2 333.8 393.51 396.09 163.4 164.5 166.5 214.6 155.4 198.4 1.28
Third quarter .828 .828 187.9 187.9 1.102 1.145 124.6 129.4 153.03 443.29 63.5 184.1 100.9 170.3 116.3 202.2 1.74
Fourth quarter .903 .967 204.9 219.3 1.307 1.529 147.7 172.8 324.48 388.02 134.7 161.1 150.1 174.1 152.6 189.4 1.24
Annual .780 .840 177.0 190.6 1.307 1.583 147.6 178.8 247.60 408.67 102.8 169.7 127.3 175.7 132.8 186.3 1.40
2005:First quarter .875 1.227 198.5 278.4 1.262 1.558 142.6 176.0 507.41 157.10 210.7 65.3 190.6 130.9 174.1 172.8 .99
Second quarter .967 1.022 219.5 231.8 1.291 1.947 145.9 220.0 537.27 556.52 223.1 231.1 202.1 228.3 184.5 260.6 1.41
Third quarter .843 .876 191.2 198.8 1.353 1.904 152.9 215.2 477.52 530.08 198.3 220.1 185.1 215.2 198.4 241.3 1.22
Fourth quarter .703 .968 159.5 219.5 1.319 1.674 149.0 189.2 427.12 592.84 177.4 246.2 166.8 226.6 166.8 266.5 1.59
Annual .836 1.031 189.7 233.9 1.300 1.733 146.9 195.8 483.90 354.24 200.9 147.1 184.7 174.8 176.0 216.6 1.23
2006:First quarter .867 .781 196.7 177.1 1.253 1.555 141.6 175.7 431.77 389.70 179.3 161.8 172.3 168.1 181.2 183.2 1.01
Second quarter .709 1.023 160.9 232.1 1.444 1.852 163.2 209.3 895.28 544.99 371.7 226.3 280.7 222.8 229.6 322.7 1.41
Third quarter .853 1.126 193.6 255.4 1.439 2.937 162.6 331.8 395.92 475.53 164.4 197.5 168.9 242.9 188.0 263.9 1.40
Fourth quarter                                  
Annual                                  

Price Trends for Federal-Aid Highway Construction

Three-Quarter Moving Index

1987 Base1
YearCommon excavationSurfacingStructuresComposite index
Average contract price (cu. yd.)IndexPortland cement concrete 2Bituminous concreteSurfacing indexReinforcing steelStructural steelStructural concreteStructures index
Average contract price (sq. yd.)IndexAverage contract price (ton)IndexAverage contract price (lb.)IndexAverage contract price (lb.)IndexAverage contract price (cu. yd.)Index
1986 2.31 95.3 15.84 107.5 25.70 104.3 105.3 .440 99.8 .855 96.6 232.34 96.5 97.1 100.2
1987 2.59 106.8 15.20 103.2 25.44 103.2 103.2 .451 102.3 .877 99.1 258.33 107.3 104.3 104.2
1988 2.56 105.6 14.81 100.5 24.83 100.7 100.7 .534 121.2 .989 111.7 283.00 117.5 116.6 108.4
1989 2.68 110.6 16.20 110.0 24.73 100.3 103.5 .557 126.4 1.004 113.4 280.61 116.5 117.4 110.7
1990 2.24 92.3 16.24 110.2 25.88 105.0 106.7 .532 120.7 1.076 121.6 292.29 121.4 123.4 111.0
1991 2.32 95.7 17.18 116.7 24.54 99.6 105.2 .475 107.7 .919 103.9 244.71 101.6 103.2 102.9
1992 2.30 94.8 18.07 122.6 24.71 100.2 107.6 .538 122.0 .908 102.6 249.85 103.8 106.5 105.2
1993 2.55 105.1 19.43 131.9 27.28 110.7 117.6 .483 109.5 .812 91.7 257.48 106.9 103.4 109.5
1994 2.80 115.6 28.77 195.3 28.15 114.2 140.8 .534 121.2 .913 103.2 297.77 123.6 117.8 126.9
1995 2.83 116.7 22.01 149.4 28.88 117.2 127.8 .522 118.5 .969 109.5 303.10 126.1 120.4 122.9
1996 2.85 117.5 21.28 144.5 29.21 118.5 127.0 .558 126.5 1.118 126.3 306.70 127.4 126.9 125.6
1997 2.82 116.2 24.51 166.4 23.56 95.6 118.8 .586 132.9 1.207 136.3 316.75 131.5 133.0 124.7
1998 2.95 121.7 23.55 159.9 29.43 119.4 132.7 .521 118.1 1.180 133.3 346.25 143.8 136.6 132.8
1999 2.78 114.7 23.60 160.2 33.04 134.0 142.6 .573 130.1 1.175 132.7 351.75 146.1 139.8 137.2
2000: 3.22 132.9 27.33 185.5 35.44 143.8 157.5 .516 117.1 1.418 160.2 330.04 137.0 139.8 145.9
2001: 2.99 123.1 26.59 180.5 34.01 137.9 151.9 .631 143.2 1.417 160.1 379.60 157.6 155.8 149.3
2002: 3.27 135.0 24.78 168.2 34.22 138.9 148.5 .610 138.5 1.210 136.7 376.77 156.4 148.2 146.3
2003:. 3.07 126.7 24.42 165.8 32.31 131.1 142.5 .657 149.2 1.159 130.9 377.42 156.7 148.6 142.8
2004:.First quarter 2.97 122.7 25.60 173.8 33.67 136.6 148.8 .715 162.1 1.618 182.8 387.54 160.9 166.9 152.8
Second quarter 3.21 132.5 26.35 178.9 36.06 146.3 157.0 .774 175.6 1.539 173.9 322.40 133.9 151.6 150.9
Third quarter 3.40 140.1 27.22 184.8 37.82 153.4 163.7 .847 192.1 1.635 184.7 324.00 134.5 157.6 157.5
Fourth quarter 3.49 143.7 26.97 183.1 39.31 159.5 167.2 .919 208.5 1.312 148.2 270.26 112.2 138.2 150.9
2005:First quarter 3.82 157.6 32.28 219.1 41.20 167.2 184.2 .988 224.1 1.532 173.1 346.09 143.7 165.2 171.8
Second quarter 4.07 167.7 33.13 224.9 43.93 178.2 193.5 .986 223.7 1.591 179.8 364.34 151.3 171.2 179.8
Third quarter 4.20 173.2 34.30 232.8 48.83 198.1 209.5 .900 204.2 1.614 182.3 526.71 218.7 206.6 202.8
Fourth quarter 4.12 170.1 33.05 224.4 51.21 207.8 213.2 .819 185.7 1.567 176.9 474.7 197.1 189.9 196.4
2006:First quarter 3.76 154.9 37.13 252.1 53.20 215.9 227.7 .832 188.9 1.550 175.2 576.62 239.4 213.8 210.7
Second quarter 4.13 170.2 38.73 262.9 53.92 218.7 233.3 .852 193.4 1.748 197.5 564.65 234.5 217.7 216.9
Third quarter                              
Fourth quarter                              

1 Base for composite index, 1987, involves 210,078,000 cubic yards of roadway excavation, 30,893,690 square yards of portland cement concrete surfacing with an average thick-ness of 9 inches, 37,760,443 tons of bituminous concrete surfacing, 577,753,544 pounds of reinforcing steel for structures, 444,924,141 pounds of structural steel and 3,498,333 cubic yards of structural concrete.

Annual Price Trends for Federal-Aid Highway Construction-1987 Base1

Composite Index
Region State 1987 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
1 Connecticut 100.0 98.73 115.49 103.84 107.77 95.35 115.32 105.61 135.59 137.39
Maine 100.0 118.03 107.56 128.21 189.20 0.00 132.82 154.70 169.67 225.04
Massachusetts 100.0 49.48 76.96 54.15 174.12 48.93 112.47 96.38 120.17 168.71
New Hampshire 100.0 93.06 60.92 132.68 0.00 192.85 197.49 146.80 200.13 212.92
New Jersey 100.0 107.43 97.51 108.30 113.41 109.17 125.96 148.97 108.60 196.90
New York 100.0 133.84 124.76 90.83 134.90 124.13 148.27 122.29 138.52 222.42
Rhode Island 100.0 118.87 158.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 98.02 328.67 151.74 0.00
Vermont 100.0 258.19 0.00 0.00 0.00 135.46 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Puerto Rico 100.0 0.00 178.89 116.35 0.00 178.35 0.00 151.20 190.59 0.00
3 Delaware 100.0 130.60 196.06 348.82 144.77 155.90 510.18 258.97 232.54 158.66
District of Columbia 100.0 91.30 54.22 105.44 83.72 0.00 67.50 0.00 87.10 428.82
Maryland 100.0 139.66 180.06 103.30 124.85 197.42 119.69 174.66 128.88 190.75
Pennsylvania 100.0 112.33 115.07 131.19 118.29 130.36 117.82 114.49 147.01 174.69
Virginia 100.0 130.84 122.79 120.90 110.58 162.58 133.41 99.78 0.00 0.00
West Virginia 100.0 125.27 119.12 147.14 136.40 107.27 121.96 101.15 107.82 104.34
4 Alabama 100.0 121.07 132.51 130.75 122.98 114.68 118.10 144.32 187.07 157.82
Florida 100.0 104.52 125.36 106.34 112.51 136.91 166.64 126.99 183.99 266.27
Georgia 100.0 143.57 131.66 158.47 159.25 153.41 177.49 218.03 177.99 224.06
Kentucky 100.0 156.89 197.01 199.66 195.65 194.89 0.00 144.72 214.14 194.16
Mississippi 100.0 171.75 140.47 207.18 137.42 164.33 144.19 256.39 233.43 325.82
North Carolina 100.0 143.40 124.58 132.05 133.76 154.65 151.34 146.22 149.42 381.48
South Carolina 100.0 137.79 172.75 178.90 172.41 213.70 162.08 154.92 203.32 299.64
Tennessee 100.0 136.03 159.47 132.95 130.98 134.69 116.02 169.63 0.00 0.00
5 Illinois 100.0 123.38 135.24 131.62 131.98 143.57 150.43 159.29 138.84 255.52
Indiana 100.0 145.40 149.68 150.92 158.42 176.07 162.20 170.76 197.42 159.43
Michigan 100.0 163.09 167.83 191.19 214.90 220.29 237.41 208.71 191.33 244.22
Minnesota 100.0 147.02 275.34 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 140.88
Ohio 100.0 112.45 110.48 116.97 139.56 110.90 113.95 114.65 131.70 128.44
Wisconsin 100.0 138.26 137.11 145.33 258.71 160.66 153.96 156.52 0.00 374.60
6 Arkansas 100.0 123.27 116.57 135.57 148.04 152.68 163.62 144.61 146.78 184.54
Louisiana 100.0 168.87 206.69 148.98 139.69 160.74 184.59 186.80 203.16 241.18
New Mexico 100.0 106.56 111.72 111.85 112.39 60.70 119.67 174.28 105.78 127.97
Oklahoma 100.0 137.56 147.02 158.69 133.29 158.53 151.49 152.81 147.02 213.60
Texas 100.0 89.44 106.55 0.00 0.00 0.00 196.10 153.68 183.05 163.56
7 Iowa 100.0 126.39 121.17 126.12 132.15 128.98 136.47 142.92 145.79 155.27
Kansas 100.0 98.95 101.84 113.57 105.56 120.50 104.35 106.91 90.54 185.80
Missouri 100.0 143.26 96.14 163.85 165.86 353.67 120.80 131.45 125.22 187.37
Nebraska 100.0 144.40 152.25 152.30 141.68 147.01 138.96 140.93 177.09 228.98
8 Colorado 100.0 169.74 189.41 173.71 175.76 198.52 242.19 0.00 194.61 310.92
Montana 100.0 150.30 166.66 217.51 184.99 176.48 184.37 210.89 183.58 185.93
North Dakota 100.0 174.23 145.48 201.82 172.90 177.10 199.01 224.95 218.78 210.86
South Dakota 100.0 127.68 143.41 188.35 169.72 158.79 176.05 164.36 183.62 202.23
Utah 100.0 163.23 182.06 164.75 169.87 213.04 225.04 164.95 205.71 593.24
Wyoming 100.0 141.28 154.43 202.74 165.09 167.31 200.03 222.06 191.04 252.46
9 Arizona 100.0 107.28 126.56 111.69 118.46 127.83 119.76 116.04 146.13 0.00
California 100.0 125.48 138.28 141.01 150.26 145.80 153.26 178.17 241.35 300.94
Hawaii 100.0 72.24 94.82 108.63 105.03 118.43 152.53 111.33 117.00 135.31
Nevada 100.0 122.49 183.11 159.33 166.28 164.03 168.97 158.48 230.61 210.23
10 Alaska 100.0 99.76 0.00 166.55 133.79 152.87 188.09 207.43 200.38 218.28
Idaho 100.0 127.99 168.67 133.29 173.43 167.24 187.83 142.05 173.15 205.91
Oregon 100.0 160.30 288.09 175.08 173.29 170.07 175.63 249.80 192.32 304.26
Washington 100.0 187.34 0.00 155.79 153.39 155.81 158.53 160.65 213.94 222.68
  UNITED STATES 100.0 130.55 126.87 136.50 145.63 144.75 147.90 149.75 154.38 183.56

1 Indices are based on information submitted for Federal-aid construction contracts over $500,000. In some instances, individual State indices may not be truly representative of long-term price trends because of comparatively low volumes of work for the period reported, or because of unusual projects awarded during the period. Also, differences in bid item specifications among the States might account for some of the differences in unit prices in the various States.

The base for each State index is its own particular "market basket" of quantities and costs during the base period. The composite index for each State measures the change in that State's index since base year 1987. (In 1987 each State's index equalled 100.)

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
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