Year-on-Year

Compared to a year ago level, the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) posted a negative rate of 0.1 percent in December. Last month it was recorded at 0.8 percent and in December 2013, 2.4 percent. The downtrend was due to 14.9 percent decline in fuels and lubricants index. Slower annual increments were also noted in the indices of cement at 2.3 percent and tileworks, 2.7 percent. The rest of the commodity groups either had higher annual mark-ups or retained their last month’s rates with the indices of asphalt and machinery and equipment rental still registering a zero growth.

The annual average growth of the CMWPI in 2014 rose to 1.9 percent. It was 1.8 percent in 2013. Measured from their 2013 rates, the annual average of the following indices increased during the year: sand and gravel, 4.3 percent; concrete products, 2.4 percent; hardware, 2.3 percent; plywood, 2.7 percent; lumber, 5.1 percent; G.I. sheet, 3.9 percent; glass and glass products, 2.2 percent; electrical works, 3.2 percent; plumbing fixtures and accessories, 6.1 percent; painting works, 1.2 percent; and PVC pipes, 3.0 percent. However, the annual average growth of fuels and lubricants index further dropped by 1.0 percent. The rest of the commodity groups had lower annual average increments during the year with the indices of asphalt and machinery and equipment rental having a zero growth.

Month-on-Month

On a monthly basis, the wholesale prices of selected construction materials in NCR further went down by 0.8 percent in December. This was attributed to the decreases registered in the indices of fuels and lubricants at -7.0 percent and cement, -0.2 percent. Higher monthly growths were, however, seen in the indices of hardware and reinforcing steel at 0.2 percent; plywood, 0.5 percent; plumbing fixtures and accessories, 0.6 percent; and PVC pipes, 0.1 percent. Movements in the other commodity groups either remained at their last month’s rates or had a zero growth.

A series of price rollbacks was observed in gasoline, diesel and fuel oil during the month. Likewise, prices of cement were on the downtrend. On the other hand, higher prices were noticed in plywood, steel bars, PVC pipes, plumbing fixtures and accessories like faucet, kitchen sink and angle valves.