The construction materials wholesale price index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) decreased by 0.2 percent in September this year.

Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Friday showed that the decline was slightly slower than the -0.5 percent recorded in August this year.

The PSA attributed the slower decrease to the increase in the heavily-weighted index of concrete products at 0.2 percent in September from a 0.6 percent decline in the previous month.

A faster annual increment was also observed in the index of tileworks at 1.6 percent from 1.5 percent in August 2025.

The PSA said slower decline were likewise noted in commodity groups such as cement (-1.2 percent from -1.3 percent), electrical works (-0.4 percent from -0.5 percent), and fuels and lubricants (-2.8 percent from -3.2 percent).

On the other hand, slower annual increases were observed in the indices of hardware (0.1 percent from 0.2 percent), lumber (0.9 percent from 1.2 percent), G.I. sheet (0.4 percent from 0.7 percent), doors, jambs and steel casement (0.5 percent from 0.6 percent), and painting works (1 percent from 1.1 percent).

The PSA said the CMWPI is one of the most important economic indicators which is designed to measure changes in the average wholesale prices of selected construction materials.

It is used for the computation of price escalation of construction materials for various government projects as indicated in the Presidential Decree No. 1594. 

PNA PHOTO