The National Index of Construction, calculated by the IBGE in partnership with CAIXA (Caixa Econômica Federal), changed by 1.20% in May.  In relation to April (0.42%), there was increase of 0.78 percentage points.  In comparison with May 2005 (1.47 %), the current index was lower in 0.27 percentage points.  The accumulated index in the year was 2.58% and in the last 12 months, 5.36%.

The national cost per square meter changed to R$ 557.13, being R$ 321.79 referent to material and R$ 235.34 to labor force.  Material increased 0.25 percentage points, changing from 0.02% in April to 0.27% in May.  In the year, there was hike of 1.42% and in 12 months, 3.84%.  Labor force had a significant acceleration with change of 2.51%, 1.54 percentage points above the rate of April (0.97%). In the year, it increased by 4.21% and in the last 12 months, 7.51%.

SOURCE: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Índices de Preços.
NOTE: These results are calculated monthly by IBGE through a partnership with CAIXA – Caixa Econômica Federal.

Southeast and Northeast Regions stood out

The Southeast had hike of 1.61% and the Northeast of 1.14%.  The indexes of the Central West and South Regions were, respectively, 0.71% and 0.70%, while the lowest regional change was observed in the North, 0.64%.  Regarding the accumulated rates in the year, the Northeast had the highest one (3.61%).  Following was the Southeast with 2.83%. The South had the lowest accumulated result (1.28%).

The Northeast also stood out in the accumulated index of the last twelve months (6.98%) and in a lower degree the North (6.60%).  The lowest accumulated index in this period occurred in the Central West (3.49%).  The regional costs were: R$ 597.84 (Southeast); R$ 554.47 (South); R$ 535.01 (North); R$ 524.46 (Central West) and R$ 515.70 (Northeast).

Collective agreements influence the indexes

Among the state indexes, the highest ones were influenced by the readjustments of labor force.  The major index was recorded in Sergipe (4.38%), which had the highest accumulated index in the year (6.47%) and in twelve months (10.83%).  The lowest result in the month occurred in Tocantins (0.11%).