Cost update: September 2004 | Features

Materials: Key indicators
	% change
Consumer prices
Consumer Prices Index (CPI)	+1.4
Retail Prices Index (RPI)	+3.0
All items excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX)	+2.2
All items excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes (RPIY)	+2.0
Industry generally
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry	+3.2
Materials and fuels purchased by manufacturing industry excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum industries	+1.0
Output prices of manufactured products	+2.5
Output prices of manufactured products excluding food, beverages, tobacco and petroleum	+1.6

Construction materials
% change June 2003-June 2004
Construction materials	+4.0
Housebuilding materials	+2.9
Mechanical services materials
Non-housing	+3.7
Housing only	+6.1
Electrical services materials	+2.9
Metals (three-month prices)
Primary aluminium	+21.9
Copper	+60.6
Lead	+71.6
Zinc	+19.3
Iron & steel angles, shapes and sections and sheet piling (imported)	+33.9
Lead, zinc and tin products	+29.2
Copper tubes and fittings	+17.4
Veneers, plywood etc (imported)	+16.1
Bituminous mixtures	+9.0
Glass fibres	+8.1
Insulated wires and cables	+8.1
Wood, sawn planed or impregnated	+6.9
Sand and gravel	+6.5
Plastics in primary forms	+6.2
Steel tubes and fittings	+6.1
Central heating radiators and boilers	+5.3
Mortars	+4.8
Oil-based paints	–2.5
Ready mixed concrete	–2.6
Coated roadstone	–4.0
Glass	–10.2
Sources: ONS and DTI June/July 2004 figures provisional

Wage agreement summary for major wage-fixing bodies
The following table summarises the wage agreements currently in force for the principal wage-fixing bodies within the construction industry:
Operatives	Agreement body	Wage rates effective since:	Details in:	Date of next review:
Builders and civil engineering operatives	Construction Industry Joint Council	28 June 2004	Cost Update 4 June 2004	27 June 2005 (basic rates up 9.5%)
			Spon’s Architects’ and Builders’ Price Book 2005
	Building & Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC)	7 June 2004	As above	13 June 2005
Plumbers	The Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales	5 January 2004	Cost Update 5 March 2004	3 January 2005 (basic rates up 6%)
	Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board for the Plumbing Industry	2 March 2004	Cost Update 4 June 2004	30 May 2005 (basic rates up 5-6.6%)
H&V operatives	Joint Conciliation Committee of the Heating, Ventilating and Domestic Engineering Industry	3 November 2003	Cost Update 5 December 2003	4 October 2004 (basic rates up 4.5% – see below)
Electricians	The Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry	5 January 2004	Cost Update 5 March 2004 Spon’s Mechanical and Electrical Services Price Book 2004	10 January 2005 (National rates up 3.7%, London rates up 3.5-6.2%)
	Scottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry	5 January 2004	Cost Update 5 March 2004	Likely to be January 2005

Hourly rates of wages from 4 October 2004
		£/hr
Foreman		12.56
Senior craftsman		10.38
Craftsman		9.52
Installer		8.63
Adult trainee		7.27
Mate	(over 18)	7.27
	(17-18)	4.67
	(up to 17)	3.38
Modern Apprentices	Junior	4.73
	Intermediate	6.69
	Senior	8.63
There will also be a corresponding increase in responsibility allowances:
Craftsmen	% increase
Second welding skill or
Supervisory responsibility	0.43
Second welding skill and
Supervisory responsibility	0.86
Senior craftsmen
Second welding skill	0.43
Supervising responsibility	0.86
Second welding skill and
Supervisory responsibility	1.29