Cost update: June 2005 | Features

Materials - Key indicators
	% change Apr 04-Apr 05
Consumer prices
Consumer Prices Index (CPI)	+1.9 ↑
Industry generally
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry	+10.4
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum industries	+6.9
Output prices of manufactured products	+3.2
Output prices of manufactured products excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum	+2.7
The principal commodities driving the input price rises over the last year have been:
electricity	+21%
gas	+56%
crude oils	+49%
plastics in primary forms	18%
The primary drivers behind output price inflation over the last year have been:
base metals	+15.6%
petroleum products	+14.2%
fabricated metal products	+9.1%

Construction materials
	Mar 04-Mar 05
Non-housing new work	+9.1
New housing	+3.9
Repair and maintenance	+5.1
Mechanical services materials
Non-housing	+7.2
Housing only	+9.4
Electrical services materials	+10.1
	% change April 04–April 05
Fabricated structural steel	+44.3*
Fuel oil	+34.4
Gas oil and derv	+15.4
Steel tubes and fittings	+13.9
Lead, zinc and tin	+12.7
Plastics in primary forms	+11.9
Glass fibres	+11.7
Lighting equipment and electric lamps	+10.7
Central heating radiators and boilers	+8.2
Clay bricks and tiles	+6.9
Veneer sheets: plywood etc	+6.9
Concrete reinforcing bars	+6.6 *
Plastic pipes	+6.2
Taps and valves	+5.6
Ready-mixed concrete	+5.5
Cement	+5.3
Sawn wood	+5.2
Insulated wires and cables	+5.1
Water-based paints	+5.0
Kitchen furniture	–4.7
Crushed rock	–11.7
*increase to March 2005
Data sources: ONS and DTI (Dec 2004 and Jan 2005 figures provisional)

Wage agreement summary
Operatives	Agreement body	Rates effective since:	Details in:	Date of next review:
Builders and civil engineering operatives	Construction Industry Joint Council	28 June 2004	Cost Update 4 June 2004 Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2005	27 June 2005 (basic rates will rise 9.5%)
	Building & Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC)	7 June 2004	Cost Update 4 June 2004, Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2005	13 June 2005 (craft rates up 10%, general rate up 6%)
Plumbers	The Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales	3 January 2005	Cost Update 3 December 2004, Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2005	2 January 2006 (increase not yet determined)
	Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board for the Plumbing Industry	30 May 2005	See below	Likely to be 29 May 2006
H&V operatives	Joint Conciliation Committee of the Heating, Ventilating and Domestic Engineering Industry	4 October 2004	Cost Update 10 September 2004, Spon’s	3 October 2005 (basic rates will rise 5.1%)
			M&E Services Price Book 2005
Electricians	The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry	10 January 2005	Cost Update 11 March 2005	9 January 2006 (basic rates will rise 4.5%)
	Scottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry	10 January 2005	Cost Update 11 March 2005	9 January 2006 (basic rates will rise 4.5%)