A rush to purchase construction materials in anticipation of tariffs caused an increase in material prices last month, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors. The observation came as the ABC released its latest analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data, which found that construction material prices increased 1.4% in January.Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.9% for the month, and overall construction input prices are 1.3% higher than a year ago, the analysis also found.Januarys nonresidential construction input prices are now also 0.7% higher. In particular, prices increased in all three energy subcategories, with crude petroleum prices increasing 14.8%, natural gas increasing 13.7%, and unprocessed energy material prices increasing 13.0%.Chart credit: Associated Builders and ContractorsMaterials prices increased at the fastest monthly pace in two years in January, said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. This rapid e...