The long and the shortage of it

Ken Simonson, chief economist for The Associated General Contractors of America, says things are looking, well, short in the construction industry. "Construction faces much higher materials cost increases than the economy as a whole, and availability of some materials may be a problem," Simonson says. "Contractors in the past two weeks have reported to AGC that cement had run out in Spokane, Wash. and Little Rock, Ark., and that fly ash was unobtainable in Oregon. Tires for offroad equipment are a continuing problem. The Institute for Supply Management said on Wednesday that its nonmanufacturing members reported price increases in April for asphalt, construction labor, copper, diesel fuel, freight and fuel surcharges, insulation, roofing materials, steel, tires, wallboard, and wire." Hopefully the aggregates industry can keep cranking out its products, so there will be no shortage there, at least. Your comment?