Press Release 03/09/2009

CONSTRUCTION COSTS INDEX (ICCE) JULY 2009

Construction costs in the Basque Country rose 0.2% in July 2009 compared to the previous month

Over the last twelve months (July 2009 compared to July 2008) building costs fell by 1.7%

The Construction Costs Index rose by 0.2% in the Basque Country in July 2009 with respect to the previous month, which means that the year-on-year rate for that month fell to 1.7%, according to data facilitated by EUSTAT.

In July 2009, labour costs remained unchanged (0.0%), whereas the cost of raw material rose by 0.3%, compared to the previous month.

In July, the cost of raw materials in the Building and Civil Works sub-sectors evolved in a similar way, with 0.3% and 0.2% increases in the costs of raw materials compared to the previous month in Building and Civil Works, respectively, in month-on-month terms. There were notable differences between both sub-sectors during the year: Building raw material costs fell by 1.1%, whereas those for Civil Works accumulated a 9.2% decrease.

Amongst the prices of raw materials consumed by the sector that experienced the highest inflation rates over the last twelve months were: Water (7.4%), Non-metallic Minerals (4.5%), Furniture Production (2.0%), Machinery (1.5%) and Rubber and Plastic (1.5%).. On the other hand, the raw materials of Oil By-products (-35.9%), Metallurgy (-28.4%), Electricity and Gas (-8.4%) and the Timber Industry (-5.2%) registered the greatest fall in their annual prices (July 2009 compared to July 2008).



For further information:

Basque Statistics Office C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Tlf:+34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.es Contact: Gerardo Pérez Aja T el:+34-945-01 75 06 F ax:+34-945-01 75 01 Online press releases: www.eustat.es Databank: www.eustat.eus/bancopx/english/indice.aspx