The construction materials price index fell 0.6% in March extending the decline since the September peak to 9.6%. The spike in prices earlier in 2008 has now been more than reversed. The index stands at 2.1% lower than a year ago. The price index is expected to decline slowly for a few more months but be rising modestly again by the end of the year and rising more quickly next year, perhaps up 4-5% from the 2009 average, says Reed Construction Data chief economist Jim Haughey.