• Month-on-Month

            The month-on-month growth rate of the retail price index of selected construction materials in NCR rose to 0.6 percent in April from zero growth in March. A higher price increase was noted in electrical materials index at 0.6 percent in April from zero growth in March; masonry materials and plumbing materials, 0.3 percent from -0.1 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively; and miscellaneous construction materials, 6.5 percent from 0.8 percent. Price decreases were however observed in the indexes of carpentry materials and tinsmithry materials at -0.2 percent and -0.6 percent from their corresponding last monthҳ rates of -0.1 percent and zero growth. The same rate of 0.2 percent was posted by the index of painting materials and related compounds.

            Price hikes were seen in electrical wires, selected wiring devices, cement, gravel, sand, sanitary fixtures and steel bars during the month in review.
   

• Year-on-Year

            The annual growth rate of the retail prices of selected construction materials in NCR went up to 2.5 percent in April from 1.4 percent in March. A higher annual price increment was recorded in electrical materials index at 5.0 percent in April from 3.4 percent in March; masonry materials, 1.2 percent from 1.0 percent; painting materials and related compounds and plumbing materials, 2.1 percent from their corresponding last monthҳ rates of 1.7 percent and 2.6 percent; and miscellaneous construction materials, 5.9 percent from -2.2 percent. The annual price decline in carpentry materials index remained at -1.2 percent while annual upward price adjustment in tinsmithry materials index slowed down to 4.1 percent from 4.7 percent.

Source:    National Statistics Office
                  Manila, Philippines