The National Index of Construction (Sinapi), calculated by the IBGE in partnership with Caixa Econômica Federal, increased by 0.37% in April, decreasing 0.47 percentage points in relation to the index of March (0.84%) and remaining slightly below the value registered in April of the previous year (0.41%).  In the year, the index accumulated was 2.09%; and, in the last 12 months, 6.48%.

The national cost per square meter changed from R$ 616.10 in March to R$ 618.36 in April, with R$ 356.63 relative to material and R$ 261.73 to labor force. 

The part referent to material changed by 0.60%, rate equal to the one of March.  Labor force had a considerable decrease (1.10 percentage points), changing from 1.16% in March to 0.06% in April, which is a consequence of the lack of wage readjustments in the states. 

In the year, material increased by 2.56%, above the rate of the same period of 2007 (1.55%).  On the other hand, labor force with a hike of 1.45%, was below the rate accumulated in the previous year (1.93%).  In the last 12 months, the results were 6.30% for material and 6.72% for labor force. 

South registered highest index 

In April, the highest regional index was recorded by the South Region (0.59%).  In relation to the national index (0.37%), the Central West brought the same result, and below the national average was the Southeast (0.34%), North (0.32%) and Northeast (0.30%). 

The Northeast Region brought the major accumulated index in the year (2.58%); and the Central West the highest index in 12 months (7.22%).  The lowest accumulated indexes, in these periods, came from the South Region (1.32% and 5.57% respectively).

In relation to the national costs, the values were the following: R$ 656.46 (Southeast); R$ 606.09 (North); R$ 603.79 (South); R$ 587.70 (Central West) and R$ 583.60 (Northeast).

Santa Catarina, Pernambuco and Paraná had the major changes 

In April, the highest indexes among the states came from Santa Catarina (0.74%), Pernambuco (0.71%) and Paraná (0.69%).  The lowest index came from Tocantins (0.07%) followed closely by Piauí (0.09%).

SELECTED STATISTICS

APRIL/08

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.