Will the aftermath to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita keep steel supplies tight and prices on a roller coaster? Can cement supplies ever catch up with demand? What’s the outlook for diesel, other petroleum products and natural gas? Are insurance and surety headed for scarcity and high costs in light of recent hurricanes? How will soaring energy costs affect other building materials such as PVC, gypsum, polyiso insulation and off-road tires? Will there be chain reaction impacts on wages, health and other benefit costs?

These are just some of the questions that will be addressed by a panel of experts during the American General Contractors of America’s audio conference to be held Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Panelists will include Kenneth Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America; John Cross, vice president of the American Institute of Steel Construction; and Ed Sullivan, chief economist for the Portland Cement Association.

Cost for listening to the conference is $149 for AGC members and $179 for non-members. Attendees will also receive a free advance copy of Simonson’s “2006 Economic Outlook for Construction,” his forecast for materials costs and their impacts.

Attendees can register at www.agc.org/outlook2006. For more information, contact Dasha Brook at brockd@agc.org; or call 703/837-5408.