Year-on-Year

The annual growth of the Construction Materials Retail Price Index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) decelerated to 1.4 percent in October 2017. Its annual rate in September 2017 was pegged at 1.5 percent and in October 2016, 2.3 percent. Slower annual mark-ups were observed in the indices of electrical materials at 0.6 percent; masonry materials, 2.7 percent; painting materials and related compounds, 1.3 percent; and tinsmithry materials, 0.8 percent. Higher annual gains were however, noted in the indices of plumbing materials at 0.8 percent and miscellaneous construction materials, 7.3 percent. Annual movement of carpentry materials index remained at 0.6 percent during the month (see Table 2).

Month-on-Month

The month-on-month increase of the CMRPI in NCR further slowed down to 0.1 percent in October 2017. Its growth in the previous month was pegged at 0.2 percent. The indices of electrical materials and masonry materials both declined by 0.2 percent. Moreover, the monthly gain noted in carpentry materials index was slower at 0.1 percent. On the other hand, the increments in the indices of plumbing materials were higher by 0.2 percent and miscellaneous construction materials, 1.1 percent. Other commodity groups posted zero growth during the month (see Table 3).

Price decreases were observed in electrical wires, cement and gravel during the period. However, upward price adjustments were seen in the prices of lumber, plywood, common wire nails, PVC pipe, G.I. pipes, and steel bars this month (see Table 3).