21 March 2018

2018- n° 70

In Q4 2017, producer costs for construction accelerated (+1.0%) Costs of production indices in construction - fourth quarter 2017

In Q4 2017, producer costs for construction accelerated (+1.0% after +0.3% in the two previous quarters). They were dynamic in all sub-sectors: +1.5% (after +0.1%) in civil engineering, +0.9% (after +0.3%) in building construction and in specialised construction works (after +0.4%). Over a year, these costs were still dynamic (+2.7% after +2.1% in Q3 2017), in civil engineering (+3.4% after +2.8%) as well as in building construction (+2.5% after +1.8%) and in specialised construction works (+2.6% after +2.0%).

In Q4 2017, the cost of materials accelerated in building construction (+1.2% after −0.1%) and in civil engineering (+2.3% after a stability) due to a rise in the price of ribbed bars for reinforce concrete. It increased in renovation of existing buildings (+0.5% after +0.3%) and in specialised works for civil engineering (+0.7% after +0.2%).

Over a year, materials cost remained particularly dynamic in civil engineering (+4.7% after +8.5%), once again due to an increase in the price of ribbed bars for reinforce concrete.

In Q4 2017, the cost of energy increased sharply in building construction (+5.7% after −1.5%) and in public works (+6.2% after −1.6%) due to a large increase in prices of fuel oil and gas oil.

Over a year, the increase in the cost of energy remained significant (+7.3% after +7.4% in public works and +9.4% after +7.1% in building construction).

In Q4 2017, equipment cost slightly increased in building construction (+0.2% after −0.2%) but it declined by 0.8% yoy (after −0.5%). In public works, it was stable (−0.4% in Q3 2017) and it increased yoy (+0.4% after +0.3%).

In Q3 2017, the variation in producer costs in construction has been slightly revised upward by 0.1 points, to +0.3%.