Year-on-Year

The annual change in the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in NCR rose to 3.1 percent in September from 2.9 percent in August. Higher annual increments were registered in cement index at 3.8 percent from 3.5 percent; reinforcing steel index, 4.0 percent from 3.9 percent; glass and glass products index, 0.8 percent from 0.7 percent; and fuels and lubricants index, 4.0 percent from 1.5 percent. On the other hand, slower annual gains were posted in ten commodity groups while four commodity groups moved at their previous month’s annual rates. That for machinery and equipment rental index was still zero.

Month-on-Month

The month-on-month growth of the CMWPI in NCR went up at a slower pace of 0.5 percent in September from 0.6 percent in August. From zero growth, negative monthly rates were noted in the indices of electrical works and plumbing fixtures and accessories/waterworks at -0.1 percent; and painting works index, -0.2 percent. Likewise, the monthly movements in the cement index and reinforcing steel index eased to 0.2 percent from 1.5 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively and fuels and lubricants index, 3.1 percent from 4.1 percent. The rest of the commodity groups either had higher monthly mark-ups or had a zero growth.

Lower prices of selected paints, some electrical wires and plumbing fixtures and accessories were observed during the month. However, prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene and other construction materials such as hollow blocks, plywood, floor tiles and glass and glass products were on the uptrend.