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Materials - Key indicators
Ìý% 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 forms18%
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
ÌýMar 04-Mar 05
Non-housing new work +9.1
New housing +3.9
Repair and maintenance+5.1
Mechanical services materialsÌý
Non-housing +7.2
Housing only +9.4
Electrical services materials +10.1
Ìý% 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
OperativesAgreement bodyRates effective since:Details in:Date of next review:
Builders and civil engineering operativesConstruction Industry Joint Council28 June 2004Cost Update 4 June 2004 Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 200527 June 2005 (basic rates will rise 9.5%)
ÌýºÚ¶´ÉçÇø & Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC)7 June 2004Cost Update 4 June 2004, Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 200513 June 2005 (craft rates up 10%, general rate up 6%)
PlumbersThe Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales3 January 2005Cost Update 3 December 2004, Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2005 2 January 2006 (increase not yet determined)
ÌýScottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board for the Plumbing Industry30 May 2005See belowLikely to be 29 May 2006
H&V operativesJoint Conciliation Committee of the Heating, Ventilating and Domestic Engineering Industry4 October 2004Cost Update 10 September 2004, Spon’s 3 October 2005 (basic rates will rise 5.1%)
ÌýÌýÌýM&E Services Price Book 2005Ìý
ElectriciansThe Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry10 January 2005Cost Update 11 March 20059 January 2006 (basic rates will rise 4.5%)
ÌýScottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry10 January 2005Cost Update 11 March 20059 January 2006 (basic rates will rise 4.5%)
New BATJIC rates from 13 June 2005
ÌýRate per 39-hour week (£)Rate per hour (£)
Craft operatives (NVQ3) 360.75 9.25
Craft operatives (NVQ2) 310.05 7.95
Adult general operative 265.20 6.80
New CIJC rates from 27 June 2005
ÌýRate per 39-hour week (£)Rate per hour (£)
Craft Rate 351.00 9.00
Skill Rate 1 334.62 8.58
Skill Rate 2 322.14 8.26
Skill Rate 3 301.47 7.73
Skill Rate 4 284.31 7.29
General operative 264.03 6.77