The National Index of Construction (SINAPI), calculated by IBGE in partnership with CAIXA, changed by 0.43% in February, with a rate similar to the one in January (0.44%). This result was also similar to the rate registered in February/ 2007 (0.41%), being only 0.02 percentage points higher.

The national cost by square meter changed from r$ 608.38 (in January) to R$ 610.99 (in February), being R$ 352.41 relative to material and R$ 258.58 relative to manpower.

In February, material changed by 0.67%, the same index registered in January. Manpower had slight decrease (0.03 percentage points), having changed from 0.13%, in January, to 0.10%, in February.

In the last 12 months, material has accumulated 5.83%, and manpower, 6.92%.

Northeast Region had the highest regional index in the Northeast

The Northeast region had the highest hike in February (0.67%), having been mainly affected by the results of Piauí. The other areas had rates below the national average (0.43%), and were: 0.41% (North); 0.39% (Southeast); 0.34% (South) and 0.09% (Central West).

In terms of regional costs, the figures were: R$ 647.52 (Southeast); R$ 602.05 (North); R$ 599.35 (South); R$ 582.17 (Central West) and R$ 575.28 (Northeast).

Piauí had the highest index among the states

With change of 3.82%, Piauí had the major hike in February. This result was affected by salary readjustments, which also resulted in the highest accumulated index in the year (4.28%).

In February, index figures for several states remained very close to stability, having changed very little in comparison with previous results. This situation was observed in Rio Grande do Norte (0.02%); Mato Grosso (0.05%); Tocantins and Goiás (0,07%); Rondônia, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná (0.08%) and in Amazonas (0.09%).   

 SELECTED STATISTICS

FEBRUARY/08

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

  NOTE: These results are calculated monthly, by IBGE, in partnership with CAIXA

  – Caixa  Econômica Federal.