PCBS: Construction Cost Index Rises

The overall Construction Cost Index (CCI) increased by 0.30% in May compared to April. The Road Cost Index (RCI) increased by 0.61% for the same period, according to a Thursday report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). Both increases were due to a 0.34% rise in the price of raw materials used for buildings in May compared to April. Prices of iron and steel, ceramic tiles and panels, quarrying products, cement, lime and gypsum products increased, while prices of wood products decreased by 0.25%. Equipment rental fees and worker wages increased. Prices of electric wires and cables, asphalt, bitumen mixture and its products, and plastic products increased, which affected the RCI. The report showed an increase in the overall Water Networks Cost Index (WNCI) and the Sewage Networks Cost Index (SNCI) in the West Bank in May compared to April.