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Changes in the indexes for nonmetallic building materials

Oct. 6, 1997

The accompanying table shows how Nelson-Farrar indexes have been changed over the period, 1994-1996, for selected basically nonmetallic building materials. Data are included for the overall nonmetallic group, five nonmetallic materials, and iron castings. Iron castings and fireclay brick indexes showed the greatest changes during the period. Iron castings changed from 1016.3 in the first quarter of 1994 to 1099.9 in the fourth quarter of 1996. During the same period fireclay brick changed fromn

Gary Farrar
Contributing Editor

The accompanying table shows how Nelson-Farrar indexes have been changed over the period, 1994-1996, for selected basically nonmetallic building materials.

Data are included for the overall nonmetallic group, five nonmetallic materials, and iron castings.

Iron castings and fireclay brick indexes showed the greatest changes during the period.

Iron castings changed from 1016.3 in the first quarter of 1994 to 1099.9 in the fourth quarter of 1996. During the same period fireclay brick changed fromn 1080.8 to 1159.3.

Concrete ingredients, concrete products, and building brick showed more moderate changes, although none of the changes in the indexes were drastic. The concrete ingredients index rose from 674.4 to 744.8 over the 3-year period. Concrete products changed from 580.1 to 637.8, and building brick changed from 906.0 to 957.2 over the same time span.

The smallest index change occurred in the clay products category, changing from 737.4 in the first quarter of 1994 to 770.3 in the fourth quarter of 1996.

The final category, the overall nonmetallic index, changed from 658.5 to a high of 712.5 during the fourth quarter of 1996.

The Nelson-Farrar overall inorganic chemical index showed a slight decrease throughout the period, varying from 456.8 in the first quarter of 1994 to 437.4 in the last quarter of 1996.