The National Index of Construction, calculated by IBGE in partnership with CAIXA, changed by 0.24% in September. It decreased 0.04 percentage points in comparison with August (0.28%). The current index was 0.10 percentage points higher than in September 2005 (0.14%), having accumulated 4.07% in the year and 5.11% in the last twelve months. These rates are below the equivalent ones in 2005 (5.92% and 9.01%).

The national cost by square meter changed from R$ 563.88 to R$ 565.21, being R$ 326.45 relative to material and R$ 238.76 to manpower. Material changed by 0.25%, that is, 0.20 percentage points less than in August (0.45%). Manpower rose again in September, with a rate of 0.21%, versus 0.05% in August (a 0.16 percentage point difference).

In the year, material rose 2.88% and manpower, 5.73%. In the last 12 months, the changes were: 3.87% (material) and 6.85% (manpower).

North Region had the highest change in September

The North Region had the highest hike in September (0.93%), affected by the result in Pará. In second place was the Northeast Region (0.32%). The other results by Region were below the national index (0.24%: Central West (0.23%); Southeast (0.10%) and South (0.10%).

In terms of the highest rates accumulated, the highlights were: Northeast Region (4.96%), in the year, and the North Region (6.59%), in 12 months. The lowest results in these periods were those in the South (3.45% and 4.13%, respectively).

The costs by Region were R$ 602.67 (Southeast); R$ 566.39 (South); R$ 549.82 (North); R$ 538.37 (Central West) and R$ 522.42 (Northeast).

Among the states, Pará was the highlight in September

Considering the state indexes, Pará had the highest result in September (2.02%). With lower percentages were Piauí (0.52%); Sergipe (0.46%) and Acre (0.43%).

The lowest results were registered in Paraná (0.03%); São Paulo (0.07%) and Minas Gerais (0.10%). Sergipe still has the highest index accumulated in the year (8.25%). In twelve months, the highest accumulated result was that in Piauí (9.33%).

                                                 SEPTEMBER/06

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

NOTE: These results are calculated monthly by IBGE, in partnership with CAIXA – Caixa Econômica Federal.