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Price adjustment formulae
Key increases 
 % change July 2003-July 2004
Concrete: Reinforcement +31.2
Cladding & Covering: Lead +16.3
Metal: Miscellaneous +15.4
Piling: Steel +14.1
Cladding & Covering: Copper +13.7
Fencing +12.6
Metal: Decking +12.4
Pipes & Accessories: Copper +12.3
Materials: Key indicators
 % change
Consumer prices 
Consumer Prices Index (CPI)+1.4
Retail Prices Index (RPI)+3.0
All items excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX) +2.2
All items excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes (RPIY)+2.0
Industry generally
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry+3.2
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum industries+1.0
Output prices of manufactured products +2.5
Output prices of manufactured products excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum +1.6
Construction materials
% change June 2003-June 2004
Construction materials +4.0
Housebuilding materials +2.9
Mechanical services materials 
Non-housing +3.7
Housing only +6.1
Electrical services materials +2.9
Metals (three-month prices)  
Primary aluminium+21.9
Copper+60.6
Lead+71.6
Zinc +19.3
Iron & steel angles, shapes and sections and sheet piling (imported)+33.9
Lead, zinc and tin products +29.2
Copper tubes and fittings +17.4
Veneers, plywood etc (imported) +16.1
Bituminous mixtures +9.0
Glass fibres +8.1
Insulated wires and cables +8.1
Wood, sawn planed or impregnated +6.9
Sand and gravel +6.5
Plastics in primary forms +6.2
Steel tubes and fittings +6.1
Central heating radiators and boilers +5.3
Mortars +4.8
Oil-based paints –2.5
Ready mixed concrete –2.6
Coated roadstone –4.0
Glass –10.2
Sources: ONS and DTI June/July 2004 figures provisional
Wage agreement summary for major wage-fixing bodies
The following table summarises the wage agreements currently in force for the principal wage-fixing bodies within the construction industry:
Operatives Agreement bodyWage rates effective since:Details in:Date of next review:
Builders and civil engineering operativesConstruction Industry Joint Council28 June 2004Cost Update 4 June 2004 27 June 2005 (basic rates up 9.5%)
   Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2005 
 Building & Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC)7 June 2004As above13 June 2005
PlumbersThe Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales5 January 2004Cost Update 5 March 20043 January 2005 (basic rates up 6%)
 Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board for the Plumbing Industry2 March 2004Cost Update 4 June 200430 May 2005 (basic rates up 5-6.6%)
H&V operativesJoint Conciliation Committee of the Heating, Ventilating and Domestic Engineering Industry3 November 2003Cost Update 5 December 2003 4 October 2004 (basic rates up 4.5% – see below)
ElectriciansThe Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry5 January 2004Cost Update 5 March 2004 Spon’s Mechanical and Electrical Services Price Book 200410 January 2005 (National rates up 3.7%, London rates up 3.5-6.2%)
 Scottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry5 January 2004Cost Update 5 March 2004Likely to be January 2005
Hourly rates of wages from 4 October 2004
  £/hr
Foreman  12.56
Senior craftsman  10.38
Craftsman  9.52
Installer  8.63
Adult trainee  7.27
Mate (over 18)7.27
 (17-18)4.67
 (up to 17) 3.38
Modern Apprentices Junior 4.73
 Intermediate 6.69
 Senior 8.63
There will also be a corresponding increase in responsibility allowances:
Craftsmen % increase
Second welding skill or  
Supervisory responsibility 0.43
Second welding skill and  
Supervisory responsibility 0.86
Senior craftsmen 
Second welding skill 0.43
Supervising responsibility 0.86
Second welding skill and  
Supervisory responsibility 1.29