Though contractors are HUNGRY for work and you'll probably save on labor costs, several reports suggest that prices on construction materials of all sorts are rising. This afternoon the Associated General Contractors of America said that during January a broad index of construction materials rose 0.9 percent on top of a 4.9 percent increase over the previous 12 months. Prices are particularly high for diesel fuel and anything made with steel. A story in the Los Angeles Times details some of the issues. Was also a recent story by my colleague, Susan Feyder, about the issue in the Star Tribune.