Romex costs more than MC cable right now?

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alex43223

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Longtime lurker, first time poster. I felt compelled because as someone interested in politics and economics, this truly amazes me. At my local Home Depot (and Lowe’s, I checked), the price of a roll of 12/2 Romex is about $140.00 USD. The price of a roll of 12/2 MC cable is about $122.00. I have never seen this before in my life; MC Cable obviously costs more to produce, and it has always made sense to me that it is somewhat higher, albeit perhaps a bit too much. Then again, MC Cable is probably sold far less in a big-box store than Romex, versus say a supply house. Still, it baffles my mind.

Anyway, my question is, has anyone ever seen Romex and higher price than MC cable?
 
Are you referring to MC cable a green EGC? There was a time two decades ago when "2-wire" NM cable prices were higher than AC cable because the NM cable had a third copper conductor. Not sure why MC cable today with the same number of copper conductors as NM cable would be cheaper.

Welcome to the Forum. :)
 
A fundamental truth about marketing: The purchase price has little or no correlation with the cost of production, and every correlation with whatever the market will bear.

That was one of the most-difficult lessons for me to learn, and I'm still learning it: Nothing has a fixed (or even logical) monetary value. Everything is at the mercy of market forces, negotiators and market manipulators.
 
alex43223 said:
Longtime lurker, first time poster. I felt compelled because as someone interested in politics and economics, this truly amazes me. At my local Home Depot (and Lowe’s, I checked), the price of a roll of 12/2 Romex is about $140.00 USD. The price of a roll of 12/2 MC cable is about $122.00. I have never seen this before in my life; MC Cable obviously costs more to produce,. and it has always made sense to me that it is somewhat higher, albeit perhaps a bit too much. Then again, MC Cable is probably sold far less in a big-box store than Romex, versus say a supply house. Still, it baffles my mind.

Anyway, my question is, has anyone ever seen Romex and higher price than MC cable?
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Agreeing with doc here. I don't really see how MC should cost more than NM on a theoretical basis. Each have the same amount of copper which is obviously the most expensive part, the MC has some aluminum but really not that much and aluminum is cheap. MC is going to have less plastic. MC is bulkier, say about twice as much so it's going to have higher shipping and handling costs. Look at the price of 14/2 MC versus 12/2 MC oh, many places it is the same or only a tad cheaper.

Another example look at the cost of plumbing PVC vs. Electrical PVC conduit. The plumbing PVC has not gone up nearly as much. So there's definitely a lot more going on than just the cost of the raw materials.
 
infinity said:
Are you referring to MC cable a green EGC? There was a time two decades ago when "2-wire" NM cable prices were higher than AC cable because the NM cable had a third copper conductor. Not sure why MC cable today with the same number of copper conductors as NM cable would be cheaper.

Welcome to the Forum. :)
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Interesting, I did not know that.
 
electrofelon said:
... Look at the price of 14/2 MC versus 12/2 MC ... there's definitely a lot more going on than just the cost of the raw materials.
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Copper is currently up to US$10.16 per kilogram.
Somebody else can weigh two rolls of cable and do the arithmetic.

LME Copper | London Metal Exchange

Current and historical Copper prices, stocks and monthly averages.
www.lme.com www.lme.com
 
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Dennis Alwon said:
I believe it is more money because of the plastic jacketing which is a petroleum process... so I am told.
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that is what I have heard a bunch too, but the more I think about it I am skeptical about that story. Seems like the amount of plastic in a roll of NM is only very slightly higher than that of MC. MC has an insulated ground of course and that plastic wrap in between the conductors and the sheath. Just a WAG, but it seems like we're talkin a difference of ounces of plastic here.
 
hbiss said:
Because NM is in high demand and MC is not. Simple economics.

-Hal
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Why is that? Not saying you are wrong just curious. Do you think commercial construction has slowed much more due to the pandemic than residential construction? What about during normal times? how much NM do you think is used versus MC in the entire country in a given time.?
 
IMHO it is what the pricing algorithm has calculated, not cost of manufactur.

A couple of years back I was pricing 12-3 MC. For whatever reason 12-3 stranded MC was about 25% cheaper than solid.

Whatever. For my application I preferred stranded anyway.

Jon
 
winnie said:
IMHO it is what the pricing algorithm has calculated, not cost of manufactur.

A couple of years back I was pricing 12-3 MC. For whatever reason 12-3 stranded MC was about 25% cheaper than solid.

Whatever. For my application I preferred stranded anyway.

Jon
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And compare the cost of 12-3 MC to 12-2 MC. IIRC its about twice as much. Then look at 12-4 MC, ouch my bottom!
 
Remember when you used to collect all those 2' and 3' pieces of NM cable at the end of the coil and throw them in your scrap pile ? While doing the rough-in, if you needed to make some pig-tails, if the scraps weren't nearby you'd pull out a short piece from the coil and make them up. Now, it's a real PITA but I save many of those scrap pieces on the truck to do the same thing. This is what it's come to :-(
 
winnie said:
IMHO it is what the pricing algorithm has calculated, not cost of manufactur.

A couple of years back I was pricing 12-3 MC. For whatever reason 12-3 stranded MC was about 25% cheaper than solid.

Whatever. For my application I preferred stranded anyway.

Jon
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I never knew MC was available in 12 stranded. I like stranded too & wish all devices were made for it.
 
alex43223 said:
the price of a roll of 12/2 Romex is about $140.00 USD. The price of a roll of 12/2 MC cable is about $122.00.
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Those prices are 100% related to the price they paid.

As was mentioned, the price of that MC is reflecting the fact that it is old stock. As soon as they restock, you'll see the price go up.
 
This is simply supply and demand. All construction materials related to home construction are in short supply. New housing starts are high due to low interest rates, and manufacturing of things like NM cable can't be ramped up that fast. Next time you're at HD or Lowe's check the plywood prices. At my local HD, 3/4" OSB is over $80/sheet.
 
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