Year-on-Year

The Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) still posted a negative rate of 1.2 percent in March. In February, it was recorded at -1.4 percent and in March 2014, 2.4 percent. The decrease was brought about by the decline in the annual rate of fuels and lubricants index at -21.5 percent. Contributing also to the downtrend were the slower annual gains in the indices of sand and gravel (2.5%); G.I. sheet (1.0%); reinforcing steel (1.2%); structural steel (1.1%); tileworks (0.9%); and plumbing fixtures and accessories (6.6%). The rest of the commodity groups either had higher annual mark-ups or retained their last month’s rates with the machinery and equipment rental index still registering a zero growth.

Month-on-Month

Measured from a month ago level, the CMWPI in NCR grew by 0.4 percent in March. This was primarily due to the 3.0 percent growth in the fuels and lubricants index. In addition, the index of sand and gravel and electrical works went up by 0.2 percent; hardware index, 0.4 percent; plywood and plumbing fixtures and accessories indices, 0.6 percent; and lumber index, 0.1 percent. Slow-paced growths were, however, seen in the indices of concrete products and PVC pipes at 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. The indices of doors, jambs and steel casement and painting works retained their previous month’s rate of 0.1 percent while the other commodity groups had a zero growth.

Upward adjustments in the prices of gasoline, diesel and fuel oil were noted during the month. Prices of sand, gravel, concrete and finishing nails, plywood, lumber, PVC doors, door jambs, electrical wires, some plumbing fixtures like kitchen sink and paints were also higher in March.