The National Civil Construction Index, calculated by the IBGE in partnership with CAIXA - Caixa Econômica Federal, remained in 1.07% in November, i.e., 0.33 percentage point above the result of October (0.74%).

In comparison with November 2003 (1.11%), the current result was lower in 0.04 percentage point.

The accumulated index in the year reached 9.76% and the index of the last twelve months was 10.16%. These results were lower than those recorded in the similar periods of 2003 (13.90% and 17.21%).

The national cost per square meter remained in R$ 502.27, being R$ 294.42 relative to materials and R$ 207.85 relative to labor force.

Materials presented acceleration of 0.24 percentage point, passing from 1.19% (October) to 1.43% (November).

The labor force also remained more expensive passing from 0.11% (October) to 0.57% (November), a difference of 0.46 percentage point.

The accumulated indexes of the year and in the last twelve months were:

In the year: materials, 12.47% and labor force, 6.15%;

In twelve months: materials, 13.13% and labor force, 6.22%.

Northeast Region recorded the major monthly index

The major regional index was recorded in the Northeast (2.08%), pressured by wage readjustments that happened in Ceará, in Rio Grande do Norte and in Pernambuco.

The other regions presented results below the national average (1.07%): Southeast (0.83%); South (0.68%); North (0.67%) and Central West (0.54%).

The Northeast region also presented the highest accumulated indexes in the year and in the last 12 months, respectively, 11.34% and 11.80%.

The North region recorded the lowest accumulated indexes in the year (7.67%) and in the last twelve months (8.27%).

The regional costs were: R$ 538.41 (Southeast); R$ 508.62 (South); R$ 483.36 (Central West); R$ 476.51 (North) and R$ 459.18 (Northeast).

Pernambuco, Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte presented the major indexes among the states

As a result of the wage readjustments of the civil construction professional categories, some states stood out from the others regarding the monthly indexes: Pernambuco with 4.38%; Ceará with 3.11% and Rio Grande do Norte with 2.91%. The lowest index was observed in Mato Grosso do Sul (0.38%) followed by Acre (0.40%), Minas Gerais and Goiás, both with 0.43%.

Pernambuco had the major accumulated indexes in the year (13.70%) and in the last twelve months (13.98%).

NOVEMBER/04

SOURCE: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Índices de Preços.

NOTE:

these results are calculated every month by the IBGE in partnership with CAIXA – Caixa Econômica Federal.