Construction Price Index - 1st Quarter 2020
Highlights
1.
The Construction Price Index which stood at 102.6 in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased by 0.6% to reach 103.2 in the first quarter of 2020.
2.
During the first quarter of 2020, increases were noted in the "Labour" (1.4%) and "Materials" (0.3%) sub-indices.
3.
The increase of 1.4% in the "Labour" sub-index is due to higher wages, following the 2020 salary compensation.
4.
The increase of 0.3% in the "Materials" sub-index were due mainly to increases in the prices of:
(i)
cement in January (3.6%);
(ii)
steel bars in January (0.6%);
(iii)
premixed mortar in February (1.3%);
(iv)timber carpentry in February (1.2%);
(v)
sanitary installations in March (0.7%) and
(vi)tiles and granite in March (0.5%).