Price of construction materials fall

May 22, 2014

The price of construction materials for residential and non- residential houses went down slightly in the year ending March 2014 as compared to the same period last year.

By John Odyek
 
The price of construction materials for residential and non- residential houses went down slightly in the year ending March 2014 as compared to the same period last year. 
 
This was according to statistics released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). 
 
The annual whole sector price index that measures the average changes in the prices of inputs for the construction sector fell by 0.8% for year ending March 2014 as compared to the year ending March 2013.
 
true
 The Principle Statistician on Business and Industry Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) ,William Anguyo speaks during the release of new statistics at Statistics House Kampala . Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu                                
 
 
William Anguyo, senior statistician, UBOS said: “This implies one had to pay less by 0.8% in March 2014 than in March 2013 for the same basket of inputs into construction”
 
Anguyo explained that the main contributors to the annual price fall include; the fall in prices of cement by 0.3%, roofing sheets by 3.2%, concrete products by 0.9%, a 0.1% fall in the average prices of electrical wires and cable attributed to the appreciation of the shilling against the dollor and 0.1% fall in iron and steel products attributed to cheaper imported raw material.
 
Winifred Mulindwa, principal statistician UBOS said the Annual Produce Price Index for Hotels and Restaurants fell by 6% in January to March 2014 as compared to January to March 2013.
 
true
Hotel Triangle Annex in Jinja. The fall in prices can also be attributed to appreciation of the shilling against the dollar where hotels paid in dollar received less shillings for the dollar. FILE/PHOTO
 
“People were returning from the Easter festive season and the demand for services from hotels went low. 
 
The shilling also appreciated and hotels paid in dollar received less shillings for the dollar,” Mulindwa said.
 
Mulindwa said the price changes may look small but they were significant, where large volumes of goods and services were concerned.
 
Mulindwa also said the Producer Price Index for Manufacturing, a measure of the changes in prices of goods as they leave factories or enter production process, fell by 0.1% for the year ending March 2014 as compared to the year ending March 2013. 
 
This was due to a fall in prices of metal products by 2.5%, bricks and cement 4.6% and food products (sugar, vegetable oil and processed coffee) by 3.4%.
 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});