The National Index of Civil Construction (Sinapi), calculated by IBGE in partnership with CAIXA, changed by 0.62% in March, being 0.18 percentage points above the February rate (0.44%). The cumulative index of the January-March period was 1.52%, versus 1.10% in the same period of 2013. The cumulative index in 12 months was 0.94%, below the 0.51% recorded in the immediately previous 12 months. In March 2013, the index was 0.18%. The complete publication is available at www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/precos/sinapi/.

These cumulative results consider the exemption of payroll of companies in the civil construction sector, according to Law 12,844, of July 19, 2013. Without exemption of payroll, the cumulative figure in the year was 1.45%, and in the last twelve months, 7.84% (table 2).

The national cost of construction, by square meter, which closed February at R$ 867.83, changed to R$ 873.20 in March, being R$ 485.63 relative to material and R$ 387.57 to workforce. Without considering real payroll exemption, the national cost of construction, by square meter, was R$ 932.81 the end of March, being R$ 485.89 relative to material and R$ 446.92, to workforce.

Materials recorded change of 1.09%, having increased 0.38 percentage points over the previous month (0.71%) and workorce recorded a 0.03% change, having fallen by 0.08 percentage oints in relation to February (0.11%). The cumulative figures for the first three months of the year are: 2.43% (material) and 0.41% (workforce), whereas in twelve months, they are: 6.13% (material) and -4.87% (workforce). Similarly, there results consider exemption of payroll. Without it, cumulative figures in twelve months are: 6.18% (material) and 9.69% (workforce).

Southeast Region records highest change in March

With changes of 0.63% (Minas Gerais), 1.13% (Espírito Santo), 1.14% (Rio de janeiro) and 0.68% (São Paulo), the Southeast Region, with a rate of 0.78%, recorded the highest monthly change in March. The other results were: 0.54% (North); 0.58% (Northeast); 0.50% (South) and 0.32% (Central West).

Regional costs, by square meter, were: R$ 889.51 (North); R$ 818.23 (Northeast); R$ 910.77 (Southeast); R$ 883.09 (South) and R$ 876.60 (Central West).

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The Southeast Region also recorded the biggest change in the last twelve months, 1.06%. In the year, however, the North region had the highest cumulative rate, 2.12%.

These results are calculated monthly by IBGE in partnership with CAIXA - Caixa Econômica Federal, according to SINAPI - National System of Costs Survey and Indexes of Construction.

SINAPI, created in 1969, has the purpose of producing information on costs and indexes in a systematic way and with a national coverage, in order to elaborate and evaluate budgets as well as monitor costs. In 2002, the National Congress approved, by means of Budgetary Directive Law (LDO), the adoption of SINAPI as a reference for the definition of costs in public constructions.