20 November 2015

2015- n° 280

In August 2015, producer costs for construction decreased Costs of production indices in construction - August 2015

In August 2015, producer costs in construction decreased compared to July 2015 (–0.3%), quite clearly in civil engineering (–0.9%), moderately in specialised construction activities (–0.2%). They were virtually unchanged in building construction (–0.1%). Over a year, producer costs in construction continued to decline (–1.1%), due to a sharp drop in civil engineering (–4.7%), and a moderate one in the construction of buildings (–0.4%) and specialised construction activities (–0.3%).

In August 2015, materials costs decreased sharply in civil engineering (–1.6%) whereas they increased in specialised works for civil engineering (+0.4%). They were stable in construction of buildings and virtually stable in the renovation of existing buildings (+0.1%): the price falls of bitumen (–7.4%) and of copper tubes and pipes (–3.3%) were almost offset by the increase in prices of other materials (notably electrical materials, painting).

In August 2015, equipment costs fell back in finishing (–0.7% as in the previous month) due to lower prices of machine tools. To a lesser extent, they also declined in structural works (–0.3% after –0.4%). They were virtually flat in public works (+0.1% after –0.1%).

In August 2015, energy costs fell more sharply in construction of buildings (–5.1% after –2.3%, –13.0% over a year), due to the decrease in diesel oil prices. The cost of energy decreased even more in public works (–6.0% after –3.9%; –16.9% over a year), due to a further decline in the price of heavy fuel oil.