Americas Materials 5% and by 1% on a like-for-like basis. Pricing remained under pressure in a  competitive bidding environment; however, efficiency improvements enabled  us to maintain overall margins in this segment at 2011 levels. The East region, comprising operations in 22 states, the most important being  Ohio, New York, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia,  is organised into four divisions. Our Central division delivered improved profits  with price increases and moderate volume growth offsetting higher costs. Our  Mid-Atlantic division was bolstered by new acquisitions in 2012 as we focussed  on expanding operations in this key market. An improving residential market  positively impacted our Southeast division and led to better volumes, prices  and profit growth. The Northeast division experienced a decline in operating  profit due mainly to the disruption caused by Hurricane Sandy. Overall US  Dollar operating profit in our East region was slightly lower than in 2011. The West region also has operations in 22 states, the most important of which  are Utah, Texas, Washington, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Mississippi, and is  organised into three divisions. Both the core Central West and the Mountain  West divisions delivered higher operating profit driven by strong asphalt pricing.  The Northwest division experienced difficult market conditions in 2012 and  the absence of large infrastructure projects combined with a tepid residential  market led to lower profits. Overall operating profit for our West region was  maintained in 2012. We expect GDP growth in 2013 to be similar to 2012 and the residential  market to continue its recovery. The approval of MAP-21 during 2012 provides  stability and certainty regarding levels of highway funding through September  2014. In addition, the increase in the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and  Innovation Act (TIFIA) funding will give states greater opportunity to benefit from  private sector involvement in highway projects; however, the actual impact on  near-term investment remains to be seen. With the roll-off of the final element  of the ARRA stimulus package, we expect federal funding to be slightly down  in 2013; this is expected to be mostly offset by higher state spending on much  needed repair and maintenance. Overall, we expect 2013 volumes for our mix of business to be relatively flat  compared with 2012. Our focus is to achieve further price increases and  efficiency improvements and, given a continuation of the relative stability seen  in the energy markets over recent months, for operating margin to move ahead. Paving and Construction Services:  Overall sales revenue increased by  Readymixed Concrete:  Total volumes including acquisitions increased by  2%, with like-for-like volumes flat compared with 2011. In a very competitive  environment, average like-for-like prices increased by 1% but, with a 3%  increase in unit cost, margins declined. Operating profit was similar to 2011  driven by acquisitions and lower fixed overhead. Asphalt:  While total volumes increased by 2%, like-for-like volumes fell by  2%. Despite the 7% increase in bitumen costs, we were able to limit unit cost  increases to 4% due to lower energy input costs and greater use of recycled  materials. With an average like-for-like asphalt price increase of 5%, our overall  asphalt margin improved in 2012. Aggregates:  Total volumes including acquisitions were flat, with like-for-like  volumes down 2%. Compared with 2011, average prices increased by 2% on  both an overall and like-for-like basis; however, margins declined slightly due  to higher input costs. Energy and related costs:  The proportion that these costs represented of  sales was maintained at 2011 levels due to efficiency improvements combined  with increased use of recycled materials. The price of bitumen, a key component  of asphalt mix, rose by 7% in 2012 following a 14% increase in 2011. Prices for  diesel and gasoline, important inputs to aggregates, readymixed concrete and  paving operations, increased by 3% and 2% respectively. The price of energy  used at our asphalt plants, consisting of fuel oil, recycled oil, electricity and  natural gas, decreased by 9% as many of our facilities converted to lower cost  natural gas. Recycled asphalt and shingles accounted for 20% of total asphalt  requirements, an increase from 18% in 2011. Wider use of warm mix asphalt  continues to deliver cost benefits while also providing customers with a more  workable and eco-friendly product. Americas Materials completed 16 acquisitions in 2012 at a total cost of  €230 million (spend €108 million net of deferred payments), adding 560 million  tonnes of reserves, seven operating quarries, 17 asphalt plants and 11 readymixed  concrete plants with annual production of 4.6 million tonnes of aggregates,  1.8 million tonnes of asphalt and 0.4 million cubic metres of readymixed concrete. Benign weather conditions early in the year contributed to increased  first-half volumes. However, second-half trading proved more challenging with  a slower pace of highway contract awards and severe disruption to activity in  the northeastern United States in late October/early November due to Hurricane  Sandy. Despite this challenging backdrop, which saw a slight reduction in  underlying volumes and higher input costs, the combination of focussed  commercial and cost actions with solid acquisition contributions resulted in US  Dollar operating profit being broadly in line with 2011. EBITDA and operating profit exclude profit on disposals  Restructuring costs amounted to €14 million (2011: €9 million)  No impairment charges were incurred (2011: nil) Regional Performance East (65% of EBITDA) West (35% of EBITDA) Outlook  CRH 27 Organic Acquisitions  Divestments Restructuring Exchange +40 +168 - - +368 -25 +20 - -5 +46 -12 +12 - -5 +23 € million % Change 2012 2011 Total Change Sales revenue  +13% 4,971 4,395 +576 EBITDA +7% 566 530 +36 Operating profit +7% 282 264 +18 EBITDA/sales 11.4% 12.1% Op.profit/sales 5.7% 6.0% Analysis of change Results