Building Material Price Index, Quarter 1, 2008

Press Release No: 15

Date: 9 April 2008

The Building Material Price Index [BMPI] for Quarter 1, 2008 registered an increase of 0.7 percent over Quarter 4, 2007 (183.6) and stands at 184.9.

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 : +0.2%
Marginal price increases were recorded for dressed treated framing grade and dressed hardwood framing grade.

Cement and Related Materials: +0.2%
Marginal price increases were recorded for cement, corner block and visqeen.

Iron and Steel: +5.3%
Higher prices were recorded for corrugated roofing iron, ridge cap, galvanized iron pipe, mild steel in concrete blocks, roofing nail and galvanized louvre frame.

Plumbingware: +0.3%
Marginal price increases were recorded for P.V.C standand gutter, P.V.C pipe and double and single bowl stainless sink.

Paint and Glass: -0.6%
Marginal price decreases were recorded for metal and timber primer, under coat, cemstik and clear glass.

Floor and Wall Tiles: -2.8%
Lower prices were recorded for vinyl floor tiles and glazed ceramic wall tiles.

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

Electrical Products: -1.5%
Lower prices were recorded for single gangswitch, single power point, tube light and fitting, light bulb and light wire.


If you want more detailed information on the Building Material Price Index, for quarter 1 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 2, 2008 will be released on July 3rd, 2008.