Year-on-Year

The annual change in the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) further improved to 1.8 percent in September. Last month, it was recorded at 2.1 percent and in September 2013, 1.7 percent. The index for fuels and lubricants posted an annual decline of 2.1 percent during the period. Moreover, the slower annual adjustments in the indices of eleven commodity groups contributed to the deceleration. On the other hand, the sand and gravel index grew by 4.6 percent; cement index, 3.3 percent; structural steel index, 1.2 percent; and glass and glass products index, 2.7 percent. The plumbing fixtures and accessories index retained its previous month’s rate of 6.9 percent while no movements were seen in the indices of asphalt and machinery and equipment rental.

Month-on-Month

From the previous month’s level, the CMWPI in NCR generally remained stable in September as most of the commodity groups had zero growths. The indices of sand and gravel and reinforcing steel registered a higher monthly gain of 0.2 percent and plumbing fixtures and accessories index, 0.5 percent. However, the fuels and lubricants index dropped by 1.0 percent while increments in the indices of cement, plywood, lumber, glass and glass products, and electrical works were slower during the month. The structural steel index moved at its last month’s rate of 0.1 percent.

Prices of cement, gravel, sand, G.I. sheets, lumber, plywood, steel bars, some hardware items and electrical wires were on the uptrend while price decreases were observed in gasoline, diesel and fuel oil during the month.