THE slowdown in materials used in tinsmithing drove a deceleration in construction material price growth across Metro Manila in October, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA reported that the annual growth rate of the Construction Materials Retail Price Index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region eased to 0.9 percent in October, down from 1 percent in September. By comparison, the index rose 1.5 percent in October 2024.
Tinsmithry products, including roofing sheets and gutters, registered a 1.4-percent annual increase in October, slipping from the 1.8-percent growth recorded in September.
Other categories also contributed to the slowdown. Masonry materials rose 1.1 percent, slower than the 1.4 percent gain a month earlier, while painting materials and compounds increased 2 percent, down from 2.2 percent in September.
Some segments, however, saw faster growth. Plumbing materials climbed 0.2 percent from 0.1 percent the previous month, and miscellaneous construction materials grew 0.6 percent, up from 0.2 percent.
Carpentry materials, which had fallen 0.1 percent in September, rebounded slightly to a 0.2-percent increase. Electrical materials held steady with a 1.8-percent annual gain.
The CMRPI tracks the retail prices of construction materials typically purchased by households and small-scale builders, serving as a key indicator of trends in the residential construction sector.