The construction price index continued to fall in the 2nd quarter

After three years of growth, the construction price index took a downturn in the 1st quarter of 2014 (compared to the previous quarter). This downtrend continued in the 2nd quarter.

In the 2nd quarter, compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the construction price index was primarily influenced by rising labour costs, which accounted for more than three quarters of the total increase of the index.

Compared to the previous quarter, costs of building materials decreased by 1.7%, while the costs of building machines increased by 3.0% and labour costs rose by 0.7%.

In the 2nd quarter of 2014, the percentage change of the repair and reconstruction work price index was –0.6% compared to the 1st quarter of 2014 and 0.7% compared to the 2nd quarter of 2013.

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. The construction price index expresses the change in the expenditures on construction taking into consideration the price changes of three basic inputs: labour force, building materials and building machines.