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The price of construction materials continued to rise in December, despite the poor U.S. economy.

Worldwide, construction commodity prices increased 6.2 percent from November to December 2010, and 0.2 percent when compared with December 2009, according to .

Some of the largest jumps were for softwood lumber, which rose 3.4 percent for the month and 5.6 percent for the year; dimension stone, which rose 2.4 percent for the month and 3.1 percent for the year; softwood plywood, which rose 2.4 percent for the month and 4.7 percent for the year; ceramic tile, which rose 2.3 percent for the month and 1 percent for the year; and diesel fuel, which rose 2.3 percent for the month and 27.7 percent for the year.

During the same period, a few materials dropped in cost, including cement, which dipped 0.1 percent for the month and 6.1 percent for the year; asphalt paving mixtures and blocks, which dipped 5.5 percent for the month and 4.1 percent for the year; and concrete pipe, which dipped 0.3 percent for the month and 4.1 percent for the year.

Reed attributed the cost changes to a delayed response of suppliers worldwide for a growing demand. Also, the changing prices haven’t fully impacted consumer prices in the Unites States yet because of the trend for contractors to bid at lower margins due to a shrinking amount of work.