Year-on-Year

The annual increment of the construction materials retail price index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region eased to 4.2 percent in February from 5.0 percent in January. Slowdown in the annual growths were recorded in carpentry materials index at 0.3 percent in February from 0.9 percent in January; electrical materials index, 7.7 percent from 8.9 percent; masonry materials index 16.7 percent from 16.8 percent; painting materials and related compounds index, 1.8 percent from 2.5 percent; and miscellaneous construction materials index, 0.1 percent from 2.2 percent The same previous month’s rate of 2.0 percent was posted in plumbing materials index while higher annual change was registered in tinsmithry materials index at 0.9 percent from 0.5 percent.

Month-on-Month

The monthly adjustment in CMRPI in NCR dropped by 0.3 percent in February from 0.7 percent growth in January. Negative monthly rates were noted in the following commodity groups in February: carpentry and electrical materials indices, -0.3 percent; painting materials and related compounds index, -0.8 percent; plumbing materials index, -0.1 percent; and miscellaneous construction materials index, -0.5 percent. Moreover, the masonry materials index moved up at a slower pace of 0.1 percent from 3.8 percent while a zero growth was seen in tinsmithry materials index.

Price cuts were noted in plywood, electrical wires and wiring devices, paints and steel bars. On the other hand, prices of nails and cement were on the uptrend.