Building Material Price Index, Quarter 3, 2008

Press Release No: 43

Date: 9 October 2008

The Building Material Price Index [BMPI] for Quarter 3, 2008 registered an increase of 3.3 percent over Quarter 2, 2008 (194.9) and stands at 201.3.

The Index is constructed using retail prices collected for each quarter from selected hardware and building merchants in Suva only. Although building materials may not be purchased at retail price, it was decided to use these due to the wide variation in discounts offered.

Detailed sectional changes over the previous quarter are:

Wood and Related Materials : +3.2%
Higher prices were recorded for rough gauged and dressed treated framing grade, dressed treated dressing grade, dressed hardwood framing grand and interior grade plywood

Cement and Related Materials: +4.1%
Higher prices were recorded for sand, standard concrete block, bond beam block, jamb block and selected hardfill

Iron and Steel: +10.5%
Higher prices were recorded for corrugated roofing iron, girth barge flashing, galvanized louvre frame, lumberlock strip brace and straps

Plumbingware: -0.2%
Lower prices were recorded for PVC downpipe, WC suite complete with pan, cistern and straps and stainless sink.

Paint and Glass: -1.9%
Lower prices were recorded for under coat, finishing coat and concrete paint

Floor and Wall Tiles: 0.0%
No change was recorded in this section.

Door and Window Frames: 0.0%
No change was recorded in this section.

Electrical Products: +2.9%
Higher prices were recorded for zelemite board, main and single gangswitch, and tube light & fitting


If you want more detailed information on the Building Material Price Index, for quarter 3 2008, please contact the Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics at:

P.O.Box 2221
Government Buildings
Suva, FIJI
Tel: (679) 331 5822
Fax: (679) 330 3656

OR

On email: info@statsfiji.gov.fj

OR

contact Mr Peni Waqawai on Ph: 3315822 ext. 122.

The Building Material Price Index for Quarter 4, 2008 will be released on 9 January 2009.