The National Index of Civil Construction (Sinapi), calculated by IBGE in partnership with Caixa Econômica Federal, recorded a variation of 0.42% in January, what meant a decrease of 0.12 percentage points in relation to the result of December (0.54%). Compared to the result of January 2009, which was 0.39%, the current index (0.42%) presented an increase of just 0.03 percentage points. The result of the last 12 months was 5.88%, very close to the 5.85% recorded in the immediately previous 12 months.

The national cost of construction by square meter, R$ 716.34 in December, changed to R$ 719.37 in January, being R$ 413.92 relative to material and R$ 305.45 to manpower.

Material, compared to the previous month, decelerated 0.13 percentage points, having changed from 0.44% to 0.31%. Manpower fell from 0.67% to 0.58%, with deceleration of 0.09 percentage points.

In 12 months, material accumulated 4.06%, and manpower, 8.45%.

Northeast Region has highest rate in January

The index relative to the Northeast Region, mainly affected by the result of Piauí, changed by 0.77%; it was the highest regional rate in January. The Southeast, with 0.21%, had the lowest monthly rate.

Os demais índices regionais tiveram as seguintes variações: Norte (0,64%), Centro-Oeste (0,46%) e Sul (0,30%). Considerando-se os últimos doze meses, a maior variação foi a da região Norte (6,39%), e a menor do Sul (5,07%). 

Regional costs by square meter were: R$ 760.46 (Southeast), R$ 720.16 (North), R$ 704.60 (South), R$ 687.80 (Central West) and R$ 676.40 (Northeast).

Among the states, Piauí and Amapá had the main hikes

Devido aos reajustes salariais decorrentes de acordos coletivos, os estados do Piauí (4,89%) e do Amapá (3,30%) apresentaram os maiores aumentos nos custos de construção. Por outro lado, Pernambuco registrou a menor taxa, com 0,09%.

Due to salary readjustment resulting from collective agreements, the states of Piauí (4.89%) and Amapá (3.30%) had the main rises of construction costs. On the other hand, Pernambuco had its lowest rate, 0.09%.

Acre had the highest index accumulated in 12 months (9.61%).

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 on a systematic way, in order to help in the elaboration and evaluation of budgets, as well as in the monitoring of costs. In 2002, the National Congress approved, through the Budgetary Directives Law (LDO), the use of Sinapi as the reference for calculating costs in public construction.