The National Index of Construction (SINAPI), calculated by IBGE in partnership with CAIXA, changed by 0.20% in August, and was 0.28 percentage points below the July rate (0.48%). Compared to the result of August 2008 (1.28%), the current index (0.20%) faced significant decrease (below 1.08 percentage points). In the year, the index accumulated increase of 4.37%, being lower than the 7.72% observed in the same period in 2008. The result relative to the last twelve months was 8.26%, also below the 9.43% of the immediately previous twelve months. 

The national cost by square meter changed from R$ 704.97 (July) to R$ 706.36 (August), out of which R$ 407.17 refer to material and R$ 299.19 to manpower.  

Material shows slight deceleration by 0.06 percentage points, having changed from 0.35% to 0.29%, between July and August. On the other hand, manpower more significant decrease (0.58 percentage points), and was 0.07%, as a consequence of the readjustment in the state of Sergipe. 

In the year, material accumulated rise of 2.91%, being below the 8.08% observed in the same period of 2008. Manpower has accumulated 6.42% this year, versus 7.23%, in the same period in the previous year. In twelve months, the results were 8.34% (material) and 8.15% (manpower).

Central West region had the biggest change of the index in August

The biggest change in the construction index, in August, occurred in the Central West (0.46%). The South had the lowest monthly rate (0.06%). Other regions had the following results: North (0.42%); Northeast (0.26%) and Southeast (0.11%).

The South Region had the biggest change (4.71%) of the index accumulated in the year; the result was the lowest one in the Region (7.52%).

The lowest regional index accumulated from January to August was that of the North Region (3.82%), whereas, in the last twelve months, the region was a highlight for having the biggest change (9.20%).  

The regional costs by square meter were: R$ 748.11 (Southeast); R$ 700.68 (North); R$ 698.45 (South); R$ 676.99 (Central West) and R$ 659.92 (Northeast).

Sergipe had the major rise in manpower 

In August, Sergipe was the only state to have salary readjustments, which represented 2.95% over the monthly index. On the other hand, several states had rates close to stability: Minas Gerais (0.01%); Paraná (0.02%); Bahia (0.05%); Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco (0.06%); Alagoas and Rio Grande do Sul (0.07%). 

Acre had the highest rate in the year (8.72%) and Paraíba, in the last twelve months (12.12%).

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

SINAPI, created in 1969, is aimed at producing cost data and indexes at national level in a systematic way, in order to help in the elaboration and evaluation of budgets, monitoring of costs, adequacy of material and the scheduling of investments. 

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