Year-on-Year

The annual increase in the construction materials retail price index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region eased to 3.8 percent in March from 4.2 percent in February. An annual decline of 1.8 percent was posted in miscellaneous construction materials index in March from 0.1 percent in February. Moreover, a slowdown in the annual growth was recorded in electrical materials index at 6.5 percent in March from 7.7 percent in February; masonry materials index, 15.1 percent from 16.7 percent; painting materials and related compounds index, 0.8 percent from 1.8 percent; and plumbing materials index, 1.6 percent from 2.0 percent. Higher annual changes were however, registered in carpentry materials and tinsmithry materials indices at 0.4 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively from their corresponding last month’s rates of 0.3 percent and 0.9 percent.

Month-on-Month

The monthly adjustment in CMRPI in NCR went up by 0.3 percent in March from -0.3 percent in February. Higher monthly increments were observed in the indices of the following commodity groups: carpentry materials and plumbing materials, 0.2 percent from -0.3 percent and -0.1 percent; electrical materials, 0.1 percent from -0.3 percent; and tinsmithry materials, 3.6 percent from zero growth. On the contrary, the index of masonry materials decreased by 0.8 percent from 0.1 percent; painting materials and related compounds, -0.2 percent from -0.8 percent; and miscellaneous construction materials, -0.3 percent from -0.5 percent.

Price add-ons were noted in plywood, selected wires and wiring devices, faucet, corrugated GI sheet and aluminum sheet.