The National Index of Construction (SINAPI), which is calculated by IBGE in partnership with Caixa Econômica Federal, changed by 0.84% in March, and was almost two times above the February rate (0.43%). This result was mainly affected by the indexes registered in Bahia and in Rio de Janeiro, two states in which there were salary adjustments for manpower. The index accumulated in the year reached 1.72%; the one accumulated in the last twelve months was 6.52%. The March figure this year was 0.22 percentage points above the one in March 2007 (0.62%). 

The national cost by square meter changed from R$ 610.99 (in February) to R$ 616.10 in March, being R$ 354.52 relative to material, and R$ 261.58 to manpower.

Material changed by 0.60%, having decreased 0.07 percentage points in relation to February (0.67%). Manpower, on the other hand, had significant increase 91.06 percentage points), having changed from 0.10% in February, to 1.16% in March.

In the year, material changed by 1.95%, above the rate for the same period in 2007 91.18%). Manpower increased by 1.40%, reaching almost the same rate as last year (1.46%). In the last twelve months, the results were 6.06% for material and 7.15% for manpower.

Northeast and Southeast had the highest indexes

In March, the highest indexes by area were those of the Northeast (1.15%) and Southeast (1.04%), due to the results reached in Bahia an in Rio de Janeiro, respectively. The other areas had rates below the national average (0.845): 0.58% in the Central West; 0.35% in the North; and 0.15% in the South. The Northeast Region also had the highest indexes accumulated in the year (2.28%) and in 12 months (7.52%). The highest accumulated indexes, in these same periods, were those of the South Region (0.73% and 5.02%).

Figures relative to costs by area were: R$ 654.25 (Southeast); R$ 604.13 (North); R$ 600.25 (South); R$ 585.54 (Central West); and R$ 581.87 (Northeast).

Three states were highlights in March: : Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Roraima

With increases of, respectively, 4.84%, 2.89% and 2.03%, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Roraima were the highlights in March, due to salary readjustments. The other states had indexes below the national average (0.84%).

SELECTED STATISTICS - March/08

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

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

- Caixa Econômica Federal.