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The cost of construction materials took a breather in April, while contractors showed slightly greater ability to roll past price increases into their bids, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by 51����.  Association officials noted that despite the temporary reprieve from materials price hikes, market conditions for construction remain difficult. “Contractors caught a bit of a break on major input costs in April, enabling some firms to make up for recent price spikes,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, workloads remain uneven by segment and geographical region, leaving many firms very vulnerable to unexpected price hikes for key materials.” Read full press release .  The news was covered by , ,�� , , and .