Year-on-Year

On an annual basis, the Construction Materials Retail Price Index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) moved up by 0.8 percent in March 2016. It declined by 0.4 percent in February 2016 while it increased by 0.1 percent during the same month last year. Annual upward adjustments were observed in the indices of masonry materials and plumbing materials at 1.7 percent and 1.2 percent after it posted negative annual growths last month at 1.3 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively. From a flat growth, the electrical materials index picked up by 1.8 percent. Moreover, a higher annual increment of 1.2 percent was noted in painting materials and related compounds index. Meanwhile, the annual gain in carpentry materials index slowed down to 0.3 percent from 0.8 percent last month. Negative annual rates were still recorded in the corresponding indices of tinsmithry materials and miscellaneous construction materials at -0.9 percent and -1.2 percent, respectively (Table 2).

Month-on-Month

Compared from a month ago level, the CMRPI in NCR went up 0.6 percent in March 2016. From a flat growth last month, the carpentry materials index inched up by 0.1 percent; electrical materials index, 0.7 percent; and painting materials and related compounds index, 0.3 percent. In addition, the indices for masonry materials rose by 1.9 percent; plumbing materials, 0.4 percent, and tinsmithry materials, 0.6 percent. On the other hand, miscellaneous construction materials index picked up 1.1 percent (Table 3).

Prices of plywood, cement, hollow blocks, paints, G. I. pipes and corrugated G.I. sheets were higher during the month. Lower prices were however, observed in common wire and finishing nails.