The rise in construction prices in the first quarter was curbed by the lower cost of materials

Ülo Paulus, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2024, the construction price index was primarily influenced by the 2.9% increase in employees’ wages, which accounted for 54% of the index change. “Compared with the fourth quarter of last year, labour force was 0.6% more expensive and the cost of using building machines rose by 0.3%, while the prices of building materials were down by 0.2%,” explained Paulus. 

The repair and reconstruction work price index decreased by 0.5% compared with the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased by 0.5% compared with the first quarter of last year.

Change in the construction price index, 1st quarter 2025

Change in the repair and reconstruction work price index, 1st quarter 2025

The construction price index expresses the change in construction expenditures taking into consideration the price changes of three basic inputs: labour force, building machines, and building materials. The calculation of the construction price index covers four groups of buildings: detached houses, blocks of flats, industrial buildings, and office buildings. The repair and reconstruction work price index covers office buildings.

Statistics Estonia collects and analyses data for the construction price index for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to understand how the Estonian economy is doing.

See also the prices section on our website. More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.

When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
 

For further information:

Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee

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