Year-on-Year

The annual increase of Construction Materials Retail Price Index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) slowed down to 2.0 percent in August 2018. Its annual mark-up in July 2018 was posted at 2.5 percent while in August 2017, 1.1 percent. Slower annual increments were recorded in the indices of all the commodity groups except for the plumbing materials index which posted a higher annual rate of 1.5 percent (see Table 2).

Month-on-Month

The CMRPI in NCR slightly declined by 0.04 percent in August 2018. Its monthly rate of change in July 2018 was recorded at 0.2 percent. The indices of electrical materials and painting materials and related compounds both dropped by 0.1 percent. Likewise, miscellaneous construction materials index decreased by 0.3 percent. Moreover, tinsmithry materials index moved up at a slower pace of 0.1 percent. On the other hand, the indices of carpentry materials went up by 0.1 percent and masonry materials, 0.2 percent. A minimal increase of 0.012 percent was also noted in plumbing materials index during the month (see Table 3).

Prices of electrical wires, paints and plain round steel bars went down during the month. On the contrary, higher prices were registered in plywood, common wire nails, hinges, electrical switch, sand, hollow blocks, tiles, corrugated G.I. sheets, G.I. elbow and steel bars.