Residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.2% in August and were up 5.1% from a year ago. Energy prices rose sharply in August, as prices for energy inputs to residential construction rose 6.6% over the month. Prices for services also rose, up 1.5% over the month and 7.8% higher over the year. The Producer Price Index for final demand was up 0.4% in August, after rising 0.1% in July. Compared to a year ago, final demand prices were up 5.4%. The index for final demand services rose 0.1% in August, while the index for final demand goods rose 1.1%. …Price increases for energy products outpaced other materials. …Outside of energy products, nonferrous wire and cable prices rose 2.4% over the month and were up 19.6% from a year ago. Softwood veneer and plywood prices rose 1.7% and were up 12.5% from a year ago. Some prices for products did fall over the month, as softwood lumber prices fell 2.5% but were still 13.0% higher than a year ago.