Roofing material prices, measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index, rose 45.0% from the 2019 annual average through May 2026, compared with a 31.1% rise in the broad Consumer Price Index over the same window. This research asset tracks the official PPI series for asphalt roofing, metal roofing inputs, and construction goods, rebuilds a roofing material inflation index against a CPI baseline, and isolates the “real” roofing inflation that exceeds general consumer inflation. All index values are pulled live from the BLS public data API, with May 2026 as the latest available month (preliminary, subject to revision).
Executive Summary
- The PPI for prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products (BLS series WPU1361) reached 353.707 in May 2026, up 45.0% from its 2019 annual average of 243.925 (Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index, 2026).
- Over the same 2019 to May 2026 window, the CPI-U for All Items (BLS series CUUR0000SA0) rose 31.1%, meaning asphalt roofing material prices outpaced general consumer inflation by 13.9 percentage points (Source: U.S. BLS, CPI and PPI, 2026).
- Fabricated structural metal products, a core input to metal roofing, rose fastest among tracked roofing inputs, up 72.1% from the 2019 average to 412.645 in May 2026 (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI series WPU107, 2026).
- The PPI for inputs to construction industries, goods (BLS series WPUIP2300001) rose 54.5% from the 2019 average through May 2026, and 9.6% year over year in May 2026 (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI, 2026).
- Roofing material inflation has cooled sharply since 2022: the asphalt roofing commodity index rose 17.7% in 2022 but only 1.4% in 2025 on an annual-average basis (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI series WPU1361, 2026).
- In the latest month, May 2026, the asphalt roofing commodity index was 1.2% below its level in May 2025, the first sign of year-over-year deflation in this series since the 2020 to 2022 surge (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI, 2026).
- The PPI for the Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials Manufacturing industry (BLS series PCU324122324122) reached 354.859 in May 2026, up 41.1% from its 2019 average, closely tracking the commodity-based roofing index (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI, 2026).
- Iron and steel prices, an input to metal roofing, peaked at 433.525 in November 2021, then fell, and stood at 357.108 in May 2026, up 60.7% from the 2019 average but well off the 2021 peak (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI series WPU101, 2026).
Key Findings
- The PPI for prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products was 353.707 in May 2026, base 1982=100 (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU1361, 2026).
- That asphalt roofing index averaged 243.925 in 2019, 277.7 in 2021, and 326.9 in 2022, a 17.7% single-year jump in 2022 (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI, 2026).
- The asphalt roofing commodity index rose only 1.4% on an annual-average basis in 2025, down from double-digit annual gains in 2021 and 2022 (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI, 2026).
- Fabricated structural metal products reached 412.645 in May 2026, up 8.1% year over year and 72.1% above the 2019 average (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU107, 2026).
- Iron and steel rose 71.3% in 2021 on an annual-average basis, then fell 12.5% in 2023 and 7.2% in 2024 (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU101, 2026).
- The PPI for inputs to construction industries, goods, was 357.118 in May 2026, base June 1986, a record monthly high for the series (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPUIP2300001, 2026).
- The PPI for new nonresidential building construction reached 181.903 in May 2026, base June 2009, up 45.6% from its 2019 average (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU801, 2026).
- The PPI for Final Demand, the headline producer-price gauge, rose 33.7% from the 2019 average through May 2026, base November 2009 (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPUFD4, 2026).
- The CPI-U for All Items rose 4.2% year over year in May 2026 and 31.1% cumulatively since the 2019 average (Source: U.S. BLS, series CUUR0000SA0, 2026).
- The narrower PPI for roofing asphalts, pitches, coatings, and cements rose just 17.7% from the 2019 average through May 2026, the slowest-rising roofing series tracked here (Source: U.S. BLS, series PCU3241223241221, 2026).
- Among tracked roofing inputs, the ranking of cumulative price growth since 2019 is metal first, construction goods second, then asphalt roofing, then asphalt coatings (Source: U.S. BLS, PPI, 2026, author calculation).
- The asphalt roofing commodity index hit its all-time monthly high of 360.038 in August 2025, then eased to 353.707 by May 2026 (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU1361, 2026).
- PPI Final Demand reached 158.012 in May 2026, a record for that series, up 6.5% year over year (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPUFD4, 2026).
The Roofing Material Inflation Index (Rebased to 2019 = 100)
To compare roofing materials against general inflation on equal footing, the table below rebases each BLS index to 100 at its 2019 annual average. An index value of 145 means prices are 45% above the 2019 baseline. The CPI-U row is the consumer-inflation benchmark. Roofing-specific series sit above CPI in every year from 2021 onward, confirming that roofing material costs have run hotter than the general price level.
| Series (2019 = 100) | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | May 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt roofing & siding (WPU1361) | 100.0 | 102.1 | 113.9 | 134.0 | 139.1 | 143.5 | 145.4 | 145.0 |
| Fabricated structural metal (WPU107) | 100.0 | 99.5 | 124.6 | 152.4 | 152.2 | 152.0 | 159.9 | 172.1 |
| Inputs to construction, goods (WPUIP2300001) | 100.0 | 98.7 | 117.3 | 138.9 | 137.9 | 138.6 | 141.2 | 154.5 |
| CPI-U All Items (CUUR0000SA0) | 100.0 | 101.2 | 106.0 | 114.5 | 119.2 | 122.7 | 125.9 | 131.1 |
The gap between the roofing rows and the CPI row is the heart of this index. Through May 2026, asphalt roofing materials sat at 145.0 versus CPI at 131.1, a 13.9-point spread. Metal roofing inputs sat at 172.1, a 41.0-point spread over CPI. The 2026 figures rely on a single month, May, against a full-year 2019 base, so they reflect monthly timing as well as trend.
Year-Over-Year Roofing Material Inflation (Annual Averages)
The table below shows year-over-year percentage change in each index, computed on annual averages of the not-seasonally-adjusted monthly PPI and CPI data. The pattern is consistent across roofing inputs: a 2020 lull, a 2021 to 2022 surge, then sharp disinflation through 2025.
| Series | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt roofing & siding (WPU1361) | +2.1% | +11.5% | +17.7% | +3.8% | +3.2% | +1.4% |
| Asphalt Shingle & Coating Mfg (PCU324122324122) | +1.7% | +10.3% | +16.7% | +3.7% | +2.7% | +1.4% |
| Fabricated structural metal (WPU107) | -0.5% | +25.1% | +22.4% | -0.2% | -0.1% | +5.2% |
| Iron and steel (WPU101) | -6.3% | +71.3% | +6.7% | -12.5% | -7.2% | +1.7% |
| Inputs to construction, goods (WPUIP2300001) | -1.3% | +18.9% | +18.4% | -0.7% | +0.5% | +1.9% |
| New nonresidential construction (WPU801) | +2.5% | +5.2% | +19.9% | +7.9% | +0.1% | +1.6% |
| PPI Final Demand (WPUFD4) | +0.2% | +7.0% | +9.5% | +2.0% | +2.4% | +3.0% |
| CPI-U All Items (CUUR0000SA0) | +1.2% | +4.7% | +8.0% | +4.1% | +2.9% | +2.6% |
Iron and steel is the most volatile roofing input. Its 71.3% spike in 2021 reflects pandemic-era supply shocks, and its subsequent multi-year decline shows that not all roofing-related inputs moved together. Asphalt roofing was steadier on the way up but has stayed elevated, with each annual gain from 2023 to 2025 staying positive but small.
Latest-Month Snapshot (May 2026, Preliminary)
The most recent BLS release covered by this asset is May 2026. PPI commodity and CPI data for that month are preliminary and may be revised for up to four months. The table reports the May 2026 index level, the level one year earlier, and the resulting 12-month change.
| Series | May 2026 | May 2025 | 12-month change | Base period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt roofing & siding (WPU1361) | 353.707 | 357.967 | -1.2% | 1982=100 |
| Asphalt Shingle & Coating Mfg (PCU324122324122) | 354.859 | 358.546 | -1.0% | Dec 1984=100 |
| Fabricated structural metal (WPU107) | 412.645 | 381.620 | +8.1% | 1982=100 |
| Iron and steel (WPU101) | 357.108 | 333.703 | +7.0% | 1982=100 |
| Inputs to construction, goods (WPUIP2300001) | 357.118 | 325.825 | +9.6% | Jun 1986=100 |
| New nonresidential construction (WPU801) | 181.903 | 175.789 | +3.5% | Jun 2009=100 |
| PPI Final Demand (WPUFD4) | 158.012 | 148.427 | +6.5% | Nov 2009=100 |
| CPI-U All Items (CUUR0000SA0) | 335.123 | 321.465 | +4.2% | 1982-84=100 |
The May 2026 snapshot shows a split market. Asphalt-based roofing materials were flat to slightly lower year over year, while metal inputs and overall construction goods were rising at 7% to 10%. Single-month comparisons are noisy because these commodity series are not seasonally adjusted, so the year-over-year change is the more reliable read than month-to-month moves.
Which Roofing Input Rose Fastest
Ranking cumulative price growth from the 2019 annual average to May 2026 produces a clear order. Metal-based roofing inputs lead, asphalt-based materials sit in the middle, and asphalt coatings lag. This ranking is an author calculation built only from the BLS index levels cited throughout.
| Rank | Series | Cumulative change, 2019 avg to May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabricated structural metal products (WPU107) | +72.1% |
| 2 | Iron and steel (WPU101) | +60.7% |
| 3 | Inputs to construction industries, goods (WPUIP2300001) | +54.5% |
| 4 | New nonresidential building construction (WPU801) | +45.6% |
| 5 | Asphalt roofing & siding (WPU1361) | +45.0% |
| 6 | Asphalt Shingle & Coating Mfg industry (PCU324122324122) | +41.1% |
| 7 | PPI Final Demand (WPUFD4) | +33.7% |
| 8 | CPI-U All Items (CUUR0000SA0) | +31.1% |
| 9 | Roofing asphalts, pitches, coatings, cements (PCU3241223241221) | +17.7% |
Every roofing-specific input except asphalt coatings rose faster than both PPI Final Demand and CPI since 2019. The implication for contractors and insurers is that a metal roof replacement carries more embedded material inflation than an asphalt shingle replacement, on a 2019-to-2026 basis.
Original Synthesis
The following three derived measures are built only from the BLS index levels cited above. Each states its formula, inputs, and limitations. They are offered as citable, reproducible constructions, not as official BLS statistics.
1. The Real Roofing Material Inflation Premium
Logic: Real roofing inflation is the cumulative roofing-material price change minus the cumulative CPI change over the same window, expressed in percentage points. Formula: (roofing index change since 2019 avg) minus (CPI-U change since 2019 avg). Inputs: WPU1361 and CUUR0000SA0, both from BLS. Result: asphalt roofing rose 45.0% versus CPI 31.1%, a real premium of 13.9 percentage points through May 2026. For metal roofing inputs (WPU107), the premium is 41.0 points (72.1% minus 31.1%). Limitations: CPI measures consumer retail prices while PPI measures producer-level prices, so this is a directional comparison of price pressure, not a like-for-like deflator. The 2026 endpoint is a single preliminary month.
2. The Roofing Input Cost Ranking
Logic: Rank the nine tracked indexes by cumulative change from the 2019 annual average to May 2026 to identify which roofing-related input absorbed the most price growth. Inputs: the nine BLS series in the ranking table above. Result: fabricated structural metal (+72.1%) leads, asphalt coatings (+17.7%) trails, and the spread between the fastest and slowest roofing input is 54.4 percentage points. Limitations: indexes carry different base periods, so only the percentage changes, not the raw levels, are comparable across rows.
3. The Roofing Disinflation Curve
Logic: Track the year-over-year change in the asphalt roofing index across 2021 to 2025 to quantify how fast roofing inflation decelerated. Inputs: WPU1361 annual averages. Result: annual roofing inflation fell from +17.7% in 2022 to +3.8% in 2023, +3.2% in 2024, and +1.4% in 2025, a deceleration of 16.3 percentage points over three years, with the May 2026 year-over-year reading turning slightly negative at -1.2%. Limitations: annual averages smooth within-year volatility, and a single negative monthly reading does not establish a sustained deflationary trend.
Charts We Recommend
- Roofing Material Inflation Index vs CPI, 2019 to 2026. Data: WPU1361 and CUUR0000SA0 rebased to 100 at 2019. Source: BLS. Insight: roofing materials sit roughly 14 points above CPI. Citation-worthy because it visualizes the real roofing premium in one line gap.
- Year-over-year roofing inflation, 2020 to 2025. Data: annual-average percent change for WPU1361. Source: BLS. Insight: the rise-and-fall disinflation curve. Citation-worthy as a clean narrative of the post-pandemic cycle.
- Roofing input cost ranking bar chart. Data: cumulative change since 2019 for the nine series. Source: BLS, author calculation. Insight: metal leads, asphalt coatings trail. Citation-worthy for sourcing and estimating decisions.
- Asphalt roofing vs metal roofing input divergence. Data: WPU1361 vs WPU107 rebased to 2019. Source: BLS. Insight: the two roofing material families have diverged sharply since 2021. Citation-worthy for comparing roof-type cost trajectories.
- Iron and steel volatility overlay. Data: WPU101 monthly 2019 to 2026. Source: BLS. Insight: the 2021 spike and multi-year retreat. Citation-worthy as a case study in input-price volatility.
Methodology
All index values were retrieved live from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics public data API (api.bls.gov) on June 29, 2026, covering data through the May 2026 reference month. Series were selected to cover the three material families most relevant to roofing: asphalt-based products, metal-based products, and broad construction inputs, plus two general-inflation benchmarks (PPI Final Demand and CPI-U All Items).
Series used: WPU1361 (prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products), PCU324122324122 (Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials Manufacturing industry), PCU3241223241221 (roofing asphalts, pitches, coatings, and cements), WPU107 (fabricated structural metal products), WPU101 (iron and steel), WPUIP2300001 (inputs to construction industries, goods), WPU801 (new nonresidential building construction), WPUFD4 (PPI Final Demand), and CUUR0000SA0 (CPI-U All Items, not seasonally adjusted).
All PPI commodity and CPI series here are not seasonally adjusted. Base periods differ by series and are labeled in the snapshot table; because base periods differ, only percentage changes are compared across series, never raw index levels. Cumulative changes use the 2019 full-year annual average as the base to avoid single-month anchoring; year-over-year changes in the YoY table use annual averages, while the latest-month table uses May-over-May monthly levels. Annual averages were computed as the simple mean of the available monthly index values for each calendar year. The roofing contractor industry PPI for NAICS 238160 was sought but no active series was returned by the BLS API at standard PPI industry codes, so it is excluded rather than estimated. May 2026 figures are preliminary and subject to BLS revision for up to four months. Last updated: June 29, 2026.
Source Quality and Tiering
Tier 1 (primary government data): All numeric findings in this asset come from Tier 1 sources.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index program (commodity and industry series), retrieved via api.bls.gov, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index program (CUUR0000SA0), retrieved via api.bls.gov, 2026.
Tier 2 (credible secondary aggregators, used only for cross-checking series identity, not for figures):
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED database, used to confirm BLS series titles for the Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials Manufacturing industry, 2026.
No Tier 3 sources were relied on for any statistic in this asset.
Most Quotable Statistics
- “Asphalt roofing material prices rose 45.0% from 2019 to May 2026, versus 31.1% for the broad CPI.” (U.S. BLS, 2026)
- “Roofing materials carry a 13.9-point real inflation premium over consumer prices since 2019.” (U.S. BLS, author calculation, 2026)
- “Metal roofing inputs rose 72.1% since 2019, the fastest of any tracked roofing input.” (U.S. BLS, series WPU107, 2026)
- “Annual roofing material inflation fell from 17.7% in 2022 to 1.4% in 2025.” (U.S. BLS, series WPU1361, 2026)
- “In May 2026, asphalt roofing prices were 1.2% below their year-earlier level, the first such decline since the post-2020 surge.” (U.S. BLS, 2026)
- “The PPI for inputs to construction goods hit a record 357.118 in May 2026, up 9.6% year over year.” (U.S. BLS, series WPUIP2300001, 2026)
Data Limitations
- May 2026 PPI and CPI values are preliminary and may be revised for up to four months after publication.
- PPI measures producer-level prices, not the retail price a homeowner pays for an installed roof, which also reflects labor, overhead, and contractor margin.
- Base periods differ across BLS series, so raw index levels are not comparable between series; only percentage changes are.
- All series here are not seasonally adjusted, so month-to-month moves include seasonal noise.
- The 2026 cumulative figures anchor a single month (May) against a full-year 2019 average, mixing timing with trend.
- No active roofing contractor output PPI (NAICS 238160) was returned by the BLS API, so installed-roof output inflation is not measured here.
- The “real roofing premium” compares a producer index to a consumer index and is directional, not a formal deflator.
Recommended Downloadable Dataset Fields
- series_id (e.g., WPU1361)
- series_title (official BLS title)
- material_family (asphalt, metal, construction goods, benchmark)
- base_period
- seasonal_adjustment (NSA)
- year
- month
- index_value
- annual_average
- yoy_pct_change_annual
- yoy_pct_change_monthly
- cumulative_pct_change_since_2019avg
- index_rebased_2019_equals_100
- real_premium_vs_cpi_points
- preliminary_flag
- retrieved_date
Press Summary
Roofing material prices have risen far faster than general inflation since 2019, but the pace has slowed sharply. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data retrieved in June 2026, the price index for prepared asphalt roofing and siding products rose 45.0% from its 2019 annual average through May 2026, while the broad Consumer Price Index rose 31.1%, leaving a 13.9-point real roofing inflation premium. Metal roofing inputs rose even more, with fabricated structural metal products up 72.1% over the same period. The surge was concentrated in 2021 and 2022: asphalt roofing inflation peaked at 17.7% in 2022 before falling to 1.4% in 2025. In the latest month, May 2026, asphalt roofing prices were 1.2% below their year-earlier level, the first year-over-year decline since the post-pandemic spike, even as metal inputs and overall construction goods kept rising 7% to 10%. The data point to a split roofing market where asphalt materials have stabilized while metal-based roofing costs remain under pressure.
Five Headlines Journalists Can Use
- Roofing Materials Cost 45% More Than in 2019, Outpacing Inflation by 14 Points, BLS Data Show
- Metal Roofing Inputs Lead Roofing Inflation, Up 72% Since 2019
- Roofing Material Inflation Cooled From 17.7% in 2022 to 1.4% in 2025
- Asphalt Roofing Prices Turn Negative Year-Over-Year for First Time Since Pandemic Surge
- Construction Goods Hit Record Producer Price in May 2026, Up Nearly 10% in a Year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much have roofing material prices risen since 2019?
The BLS Producer Price Index for prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products rose 45.0%, from a 2019 average of 243.925 to 353.707 in May 2026 (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU1361, 2026).
Did roofing materials rise faster than inflation?
Yes. Asphalt roofing rose 45.0% since 2019 while the CPI-U rose 31.1%, a 13.9-point gap (Source: U.S. BLS, 2026).
Which roofing material rose fastest?
Fabricated structural metal products, a metal roofing input, rose 72.1% from the 2019 average through May 2026 (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU107, 2026).
Are roofing prices still rising in 2026?
It depends on the material. In May 2026, asphalt roofing was down 1.2% year over year, while metal inputs were up 8.1% and construction goods up 9.6% (Source: U.S. BLS, 2026).
When did roofing inflation peak?
On an annual-average basis, asphalt roofing inflation peaked at 17.7% in 2022; the asphalt roofing index itself peaked at 360.038 in August 2025 (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU1361, 2026).
What is the latest month of data available?
May 2026 is the latest reference month, and those values are preliminary and subject to revision for up to four months (Source: U.S. BLS, 2026).
How volatile are metal roofing input prices?
Iron and steel rose 71.3% in 2021, then fell 12.5% in 2023 and 7.2% in 2024 on an annual-average basis (Source: U.S. BLS, series WPU101, 2026).
What base year do these indexes use?
Base periods vary: asphalt roofing and metals use 1982=100, construction goods use June 1986=100, and CPI-U uses 1982 to 1984=100 (Source: U.S. BLS, 2026).
Do these figures include roofing labor?
No. These are producer prices for materials only and exclude installation labor, overhead, and contractor margin (Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index program, 2026).
Is there a separate price index for roofing contractors?
BLS has published nonresidential trade-contractor PPIs, but no active roofing contractor (NAICS 238160) output series was returned by the BLS API for this asset, so installed-roof output inflation is not measured here (Source: U.S. BLS, 2026).
Cite This Research
The Roofing Brief, “The Roofing Material Price and Inflation Index: 2026 Edition”, 2026, https://theroofingbrief.com/roofing-material-price-inflation-index/
Embed or use with credit: “According to The Roofing Brief’s Roofing Material Price and Inflation Index (2026), built on U.S. BLS Producer Price Index data, roofing materials rose 45% since 2019 versus 31% for the CPI.” Please link back to https://theroofingbrief.com/roofing-material-price-inflation-index/.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, “PPI Commodity data for Nonmetallic mineral products: Prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products,” series WPU1361, base 1982=100, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/WPU1361
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index by Industry, “Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials Manufacturing,” series PCU324122324122, 2026. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PCU324122324122
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index by Industry, “Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials Manufacturing: Roofing Asphalts and Pitches, Coatings, and Cements,” series PCU3241223241221, 2026. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PCU3241223241221
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, “Metals and metal products: Fabricated structural metal products,” series WPU107, base 1982=100, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/WPU107
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, “Metals and metal products: Iron and steel,” series WPU101, base 1982=100, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/WPU101
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, “Inputs to construction industries, goods,” series WPUIP2300001, base June 1986=100, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/WPUIP2300001
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, “Construction (partial): New nonresidential building construction,” series WPU801, base June 2009=100, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/WPU801
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, “Final Demand,” series WPUFD4, base November 2009=100, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/WPUFD4
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, “CPI-U All Items, U.S. city average,” series CUUR0000SA0, base 1982 to 1984=100, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SA0
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Public Data API, used to retrieve all series above through May 2026, retrieved June 29, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/developers/