Year-on-Year

On an annual basis, the Construction Materials Retail Price Index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) picked up by 1.5 percent in May 2016. Last month, it increased by 1.1 percent while in May 2015, it decreased by 0.2 percent. Faster annual increments were observed in the indices of carpentry materials at 2.0 percent; masonry materials, 2.8 percent; and plumbing materials, 1.3 percent. From negative annual rates last month, the indices of tinsmithry materials and miscellaneous construction materials went up by 0.7 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the annual gains in the indices of electrical materials and painting materials and related compounds correspondingly slowed down to 1.2 percent and 1.4 percent (Table 2).

Month-on-Month

Compared to a month ago level, the CMRPI in NCR went up 0.5 percent in May 2016. Higher annual mark-ups were noted in the indices of carpentry materials at 0.8 percent; masonry materials, 1.0 percent; and painting materials and related compounds, 0.4 percent. From a flat growth posted last month, the electrical materials index advanced 0.3 percent and tinsmithry materials index, 0.1 percent. On the other hand, increment in miscellaneous construction materials index decelerated to 0.2 percent. That for plumbing materials index remained at 0.2 percent (Table 3).

Upward adjustments were recorded in the prices of plywood, cement, sand, gravel and steel bars. Meanwhile, concrete hollow blocks and G. I. sheets were priced lower during the period.