The National Index of Construction, calculated by IBGE in partnership with Caixa - CAIXA ECONÔMICA FEDERAL, changed by 0.34% in August, decreasing 0.18 percentage point in relation to July (0.52%) and maintaining deceleration, as already observed in June. In the year, the accumulated index was 5.77%, and in the last twelve months, 9.60%. These rates are below those observed in similar periods of 2004 (7.07% and 9.76%). The national cost per square meter amounted to R$ 536.97, with R$ 313.55 relative to materials and R$ 223.42 relative to labor.

In comparison with August 2004 (1.07%), a decrease of 0.73 percentage point was observed.

Materials increased 0.50% and remained 0.08 percentage point above the index of July (0.42%). Labor fell 0.54 percentage point, changing from 0.65% in July to 0.11% in August.

In the year, materials accumulated 5.13%, remaining below the rate of the same period of 2004 (8.45%). Regarding labor, the hike was of 6.67% compared to 5.21% in 2004. In the last twelve months, the changes were 10.44% (materials) and 8.45% (labor).

 

North regions registered the highest index

As it had happened in July, the North region registered the highest index (0.59%), influenced, on this occasion, by wage readjustments in Tocantins. The Southeast region followed in second place with an index of 0.35%. The other regional results, all below the national index (0.34%), were, in decreasing order: 0.32% in the Northeast, 0.31% in the Central West and 0.20% in the South region.

Regarding the accumulated rates in the year, the North recorded the highest result (7.08%) and the Central West the lowest result (5.38%).

In the accumulated indexes of the last twelve months, the Northeast recorded the highest index (10.88%) and the Central West the lowest one (8.26%).

The regional costs were: R$ 576.01 (Southeast); R$ 543.43 (South); R$ 514.86 (North); R$ 513.79 (Central West) and R$ 489.74 (Northeast).

 

Highest indexes registered in Tocantins and Sergipe

Due to wage readjustments, Tocantins, with a change of 3.53%, and Sergipe, with 2.60%, were the highlights of August.

In some states, the cost of construction continued very close to stability, which can be observed in the indexes of Piauí (0.05%) and Minas Gerais (0.07%).

 

AUGUST/05

 

GEOGRAPHIC AREAS	AVERAGE COSTS	INDEX NUMBERS	PERCENTAGE CHANGES
	R$/m2	Dec/98=100	MONTHLY	IN THE YEAR	12 MONTHS
BRAZIL

536.97

189.84

0.34

5.77

9.60

      

NORTH REGION

514.86

179.03

0.59

7.08

10.50

RONDÔNIA

480.06

182.22

0.10

7.59

9.60

ACRE

499.60

183.35

0.50

8.19

9.73

AMAZONAS

547.76

174.19

0.19

9.30

12.91

RORAIMA

644.43

192.93

0.54

7.75

14.08

PARÁ

491.03

175.36

0.38

4.58

7.99

AMAPÁ

500.31

184.07

0.30

10.73

13.84

TOCANTINS

549.63

191.38

3.53

6.88

11.92

      

NORTHEAST REGION

489.74

191.33

0.32

5.61

10.88

MARANHÃO

494.63

190.84

0.65

6.98

10.66

PIAUÍ

432.93

188.79

0.05

5.98

10.19

CEARÁ

470.11

185.90

0.32

4.62

10.50

RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

470.14

186.24

0.24

4.35

10.33

PARAÍBA

476.61

193.23

0.19

6.36

11.90

PERNAMBUCO

485.65

199.35

0.14

3.15

10.48

ALAGOAS

526.44

185.77

0.14

5.01

10.10

SERGIPE

459.85

200.36

2.60

6.97

14.12

BAHIA

518.06

191.63

0.12

6.98

11.07

      

SOUTHEAST REGION

576.01

192.10

0.35

5.64

9.09

MINAS GERAIS

505.10

203.62

0.07

3.42

9.48

ESPÍRITO SANTO

470.80

209.26

0.32

7.53

11.49

RIO DE JANEIRO

601.45

193.49

0.16

7.52

9.95

SÃO PAULO

606.88

187.22

0.50

5.78

8.59

      

SOUTH REGION

543.43

184.19

0.20

5.92

9.33

PARANÁ

552.04

187.15

0.16

6.55

9.72

SANTA CATARINA

530.14

179.77

0.44

5.59

9.28

RIO GRANDE DO SUL

542.96

183.95

0.10

5.48

8.96

      

CENTRAL WEST REGION

513.79

195.39

0.31

5.38

8.26

MATO GROSSO DO SUL

520.21

192.57

0.38

7.21

10.28

MATO GROSSO

500.77

197.29

0.47

5.32

8.57

GOIÁS

502.32

196.73

0.22

4.96

7.27

FEDERAL DISTRICT

568.78

191.65

0.19

4.42

7.95

 

 

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

NOTE:

these results are calculated monthly by the IBGE through a partnership with CAIXA – Caixa Econômica Federal.