Inflation and Commodity Indicators - this section includes commodity information and inflation trends.

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Specifications, Estimating, Office of Pre-Letting and Quality Assurance was previously known as SEOPL. While our make-up is the same, our name has changed to Office of Project Letting (OPL) to better describe our services. Please bear with us as our name changes through a wide-range of electronic and printed materials. It is our goal to make this conversion as seamless as possible.

The ODOT transition from a mainframe to client-server was completed with minimal problems. The Estimator program provides regions and consultants powerful and flexible software for developing project bid items and costs. The Next Generation Transport (NGT) system under development by AASHTO will include Estimator and add even more powerful system capabilities.

KDOT will Beta Test the future version of software systems designs later this spring. The prototype Web Based Database system is one of a new class of software that eliminates the need for programs and datasets to reside on -C- drives or servers. Web based systems will streamline access to data and continuously upgrading operating systems at the same time. The AASHTOWARE development program is a $50 Million Dollar effort with component upgrades planned for the next 7 years. ODOT is monitoring the progress of the system development with an eye for eventual implementation into ODOT systems.

Summary: West Coast asphalt markets were mostly steady this week; although, some lower prices were being reported in some areas. Asphalt markets in the West Coast region reported steady or lower prices this week, depending upon location. In the Pacific Northwest coastal areas, selling prices were mostly steady. In California, asphalt markets were steady in northern areas and modestly lower in southern California. There were continued reports of lower prices on wholesale barrels sourced from distant supplier refineries.

In Oregon, coastal area markets were mostly steady this week. Portland area selling prices were mostly between $625-660/ST for PG 64-22. Prices as high as $675/ST were also being reported. Posted prices were reported as low as $650/ST, and as high as $700/ST for PG 64-22.

NYMEX crude oil prices jumped in volatile trading prior the long holiday weekend. WTI ended the week at $54.43 per barrel for the WTI January, 2009 contract, increasing $4.50 per barrel from last week's close. WCS crude oil discounts reportedly declined to about $13.75-15.00 per barrel below NYMEX crude oil.

Pacific Northwest asphalt market assessments were steady this week. However, there were some unconfirmed reports of some prices as low as $450/ST in coastal markets of Washington and Oregon.

Many Gulf Coast refineries were shutdown or affected by Hurricane Ike on September 13. As of September 26, twelve Gulf Coast refineries were running at normal rates. Several refineries were restarting: BP's Texas City, Texas refinery began restarting on Tuesday, September 23; ExxonMobil's Baytown, Texas refinery also began restarting on Tuesday; and Valero's Port Arthur, Texas refinery began restarting late in the week. ExxonMobil's Beaumont, Texas refinery remains shutdown, due to extensive damage, but is reported to not have any severe damages. Marathon's Texas City, Texas refinery is undergoing repair to a cooling tower that was damaged due to Ike, and plans to restart the first week in
October. Total's Port Arthur, Texas refinery also remains shutdown.