The National Index of Civil Construction (Sinapi), calculated by IBGE in partnership with Caixa Econômica Federal, recorded a variation of 0.33% in November, the same result of October, when the index was influenced by salary readjustments. Considering the result of November 2008, which was 0.81%, the current index (0.33%) presented a decrease of 0.48 percentage point. In the year, the national index accumulated a rise of 5.28%, much lower than the 11.05% observed in the same period of 2008. The result of the last 12 months was 5.93%, also inferior to the 6.44% recorded in the immediately previously 12 months.

The national cost by square meter, which in October was R$ 710.15, changed to R$ 712.59 in November. Of this total, R$410.82 are relative to material and R$ 301.68 to labor.

The result of material, compared to the figure of the previous month, presented an increase of 0.19 percentage point, changing from 0.22% to 0.41%. The component labor decreased from 0.49% to 0.22% (less than 0.27 percentage point).

In the year, material accumulated a rise of 3.83% and labor, 7.31%. In 12 months, results were: 4.48% (material) and 7.97% (labor).

Northeast has the highest rate in November

The index relative to the Northeast region was influenced principally by the result of Rio Grande do Norte, and changed by 0.46%, being the highest rate in November. The South (0.10%) had the lowest monthly rate. The other regional indexes presented the following variations: North (0.38%), Southeast (0.33%) and Central West (0.30%).

In the year, the North region (5.79%) presented the most outstanding accumulated rate, similar to that of the Northeast (5.76%). The Southeast region (4.93%) had the lowest index of the period, and the other regions accumulated rises of 5.42% (Central West) and 5.08% (South).

Considering the last 12 months, the highest variation was that of the North region (6.33%), and the lowest, that of the Central West region (5.57%). Regional costs, by square meter, were: R$ 752.13 (Southeast), R$ 713.99 (North), R$ 700.95 (South), R$ 681.82 (Central West) and R$ 669.41 (Northeast).

Among the states, Rio Grande do Norte and Tocantins recorded the sharpest rises

Owing to salary readjustments resulting from collective agreements, Rio Grande do Norte (4.03%) and Tocantins (2.15%) presented the highest increases in construction costs. The states closer to stability were: Paraná (0.04%), Roraima (0.05%), Amazonas (0.07%) and Pernambuco (0.09%). Acre recorded the highest rates in the year and in the last 12 months, respectively, 9.42% and 9.57%.

These results are calculated monthly by IBGE, in partnership with Caixa Econômica Federal (CAIXA), based on the National System of Costs Survey and Indexes of Construction (SINAPI).

SINAPI, created in 1969, is aimed at producing cost information and indexes for national coverage in a systematic way, in order to help in the elaboration and evaluation of budgets and monitoring of costs.

In 2002, the National Congress sanctioned, through the Budgetary Directives Law (LDO), the use of SINAPI as reference for the calculation of costs in public construction.