Prices down for 12 groups of building materials in December 2013

Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) issued today its monthly report on the prices of building materials for the month of December and the fourth quarter of 2013. The report presents an analysis of the movements in the prices of the various materials used in the construction industry in Abu Dhabi retail market, year over year and month over month comparisons of prices in Q4 and December 2013. The dissemination of this important report, which presents a wide range of price data, is intended to serve the needs of data users in the public and private sectors for the purposes of research, planning and decision making in ways that support the construction sector as well as related and dependent sectors. Building materials prices: December/November 2013 Slight changes were observed in the average prices of building materials groups in December compared with November 2013, with increases ranging from 0.3 percent for the "Wood" group to 1.2 percent for "Waterproofing products". Price falls for the same months compared were in the range of 4.4 percent for "Concrete" group to 7.8 percent for construction labour. Steel The average prices of "Steel" increased by 0.6 percent in December 2013, reflecting rises in the prices of most items within this group. Power cables The average prices of "Power cables" edged up 1.1 percent MoM in December 2013, as a result of increases in all of the items falling under this group. Construction labour costs The average cost of "Construction labour" decreased by 7.8 percent in December 2013 compared with August 2013, due to falls in the wages of "Electricians" and "Surveying technicians" by 12.5 percent and 12.0 percent, respectively. Concrete The "Concrete" group decreased by 4.4 percent in December 2013 compared with November 2013. December 2013/2012- Prices falls: SCAD reported decreases in the average monthly prices of 12 groups of building materials during December 2013 compared with December 2012. The falls ranged between 0.2 percent for between for "False ceilings" and 11.2 percent for "PVC pipes". Cement Blocks The average prices of cement blocks decreased by 8.4 percent in December 2013 compared with December 2012, as most of the items constituting the groups underwent decreases of 5.2 - 13.9 percent. Steel The "Steel" group decreased by 5.1 percent in December 2013. The falls ranged between 1.1 percent in January 2013 and 7.8 percent in November 2013 compared with the same months in 2012. Pipes The average prices of "PVC pipes" decreased by 11.2 percent in December 2013 compared with December 2012, while the average prices of "uPVC pipes" increased by 1.9 percent during December 2013. December 2013/2012- Prices Rises: Natural Stone The average prices of the "Natural Stone" group increased by 18.0 percent in December 2013 compared with December 2012. Aggregates and sand The average prices of "Aggregates and sand" increased by 17.4 in December 2013 compared with December 2012 as most items in the group recorded increases ranging between 5.9 percent and 40.0 percent. Wood The average prices of "Wood" increased by 6.8 percent in December 2013 compared with December 2012 with increases observed in most items of the group. Building materials prices: Q4/Q3 2013 As SCAD's report indicates, varying changes were recorded in the average prices of most groups of building materials during Q4 2013 compared with Q3 2013. Increases ranged between 0.1 percent for "Waterproofing products" and 4.2 percent for "Wires for small buildings". The average price for "Roofing materials", "Tiles and marble", "Natural stone", "Sanitary ware", "False ceiling", "Glass" and "Diesel" showed no change in Q4 2013 compared with Q3 2013. On the other hand prices decreased for number of building materials groups in Q4 2013 compared with Q3 2013: the average prices of "Steel" decreased by 4.3 percent, while "Paints", "Cement blocks" and "Wires for apartments" decreased by 3.0 percent, 1.8 percent and 1.5 percent respectively. Building materials prices: Q4 2013/2012 Changes were recorded in the average prices of most of the building materials groups during Q4 2013 compared with Q4 2012, dominated by a downward trend. Price falls ranged between 0.3 percent for "Tiles and marble" and 8.4 percent for "Wires for "Cement blocks". Increases ranged between 0.7 percent for "Concrete" and 18.0 percent for "Natural stone", while "Aggregates and sand" increased by 17.4 percent and "Bathroom set without accessories" by 7.3 percent. Meanwhile, the average prices for the "Cement" and "Diesel" groups remained unchanged during Q4 2013, compared with Q4 2012.