Press Release 30/10/2009

CONSTRUCTION COSTS INDEX (ICCE) SEPTEMBER 2009

Building costs in the Basque Country remained steady in September 2009 on the previous month

Construction costs have fallen by 0.5% over the last twelve months (September 2009 compared to September 2008)

Construction Costs Index did not fluctuate (0.0%) in the Basque Country in September 2009 with respect to the previous month. This means that the year-on-year rate for that month stood at 0.5%, according to data facilitated by EUSTAT.

In September 2009, neither the labour costs nor the cost of raw materials fluctuated (0.0%) with respect to the previous month.

However, the cost of the raw materials of Building and Civil Works sub-sectors performed differently in quarter-on-quarter terms. Building posted a 0.1% increase on the previous month and Civil Works raw materials fell by 0.5%. There were also differences in the annual evolution of these two sub-sectors, although negative rates were registered in both cases: Building raw material costs fell by 0.1%, whereas those for Civil Works accumulated a 6.0% decrease.

The largest decreases in the prices of the raw materials used by the sector over the last twelve months included Metallurgy (-27.4%), Oil By-products (-26.4%), Electricity and Gas (-13.2%) and the Timber Industry (-5.9%). On the other hand, the annual prices of raw materials recording the highest inflation (September 2009 on September 2008) were: Water (7.4%), Non-metallic Minerals (6.9%), Non-metallic Industry (1.8%) and Furniture Production (1.7%).

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