PRICE GROWTH of construction materials in Metro Manila quickened at retail and wholesale levels in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.
Based on preliminary data, the PSA showed that year-on-year growth of the development materials wholesale price index (CMWPI) within the National Capital Region (NCR) rose 0.9% in January, a tad higher from the 0.8% growth in December.
It was also higher than the 0.1% gain posted a yr ago.
The newest reading was the fastest pace in almost two years or for the reason that 1% growth in February 2024.
Contributing to January’s uptick were slower annual declines in structural steel (1.7% in January from 3% in December), reinforcing steel (0.7% from 1.5%), and metal products (0.6% from 0.7%).
Moreover, reversals were seen in commodities of hardware with 0.1% in January from its 0.1% drop in December, and fuels and lubricants with 0.4% growth from 1.9% decline a month earlier.
Meanwhile, PVC pipes posted faster annual growth to prices with 0.3% from 0.2% in December 2025.
Retail prices also grew
In a separate report by the PSA, the development materials retail price index (CMRPI) inched up 1.2% in January from 1% in December. A yr earlier, it had the identical growth rate.
The January CMRPI final result logged the quickest pace in a yr or for the reason that 1.5% in December 2024.
The PSA attributed the faster annual CMRPI growth to prices in tinsmithry materials which quickened by 2% in January from 1.7% in December, plumbing materials with 0.7% from 0.5%, and miscellaneous construction materials with 0.9% from 0.8%.
Meanwhile, carpentry materials posted a slower annual decline of 0.2% in January, compared with the 0.5% drop in December.
“What we’re seeing in January is a post‑holiday price reset combined with real cost pressures —higher import costs for cement and steel, elevated fuel and logistics expenses, and a pickup in construction activity as projects restart,” Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said in a Viber message.
He added that rising wholesale prices are being reflected in retail prices, suggesting that contractors have began transferring these costs down the availability chain.
“For February, prices should stay firm but stable, not spike. Over the remainder of the yr, expect a gradual upward trend — not a surge — as demand stays strong but supply chains are much more normalized,” he said.
The CMRPI is predicated on 2012 constant prices, while the CMWPI is predicated on 2018 constant prices. — Heather Caitlin P. Mañago