Cost update | Features

Price movements
	Unit	London	South-East	East Anglia
		£	£	£
Sand cement screeds
Cement:sand (1:4) screed, trowelled finish, 75 mm thick	m²	10.5	9.3	8.25
Proprietary quick-drying screed 75 mm thick	m²	13.5	12	10.75
Rubber latex flooring
Latex levelling screed	m²	2.25	2.15	2.05
Plastered coatings
Thistle Hardwall and Thistle Multi-Finish plaster, 13 mm, to block walls	m²	9	9	9
Thistle Multi-Finish skim coat, 3 mm thick, to plasterboard walls	m²	4.35	4.25	4.1
Galvanized steel angle bead Ceramic tiling	m	2.05	1.9	1.5
Ceramic tiling
Standard colour wall tiles, 152 × 152 × 5.5 mm, waterproof adhesive and grout	m²	42	39	34.5
Rubber/plastics/lino/sheeting
Rubber sheeting, smooth finish, 3 mm, emulsion sealer	m²	40.25	38.5	33
Vinyl safety flooring, 2.5 mm, seam-welded	m²	25.4	23	22
Linoleum sheet, 2.5 mm	m²	16.75	15.5	15
Painting
One thinned coat and two coats matt emulsion
– to plaster	m²	1.95	2.15	1.95
– to concrete	m²	2.25	2.25	2.15
One coat primer on wood before fixing, general surfaces not exceeding 300 mm girth	m	0.5	0.5	0.45
Prepare, prime, one undercoat and two finish coats gloss paint to metal general surfaces not exceeding 300 mm girth	m	2.2	2.2	1.95

Key indicators
	% change on year
	(to July 1999)
Retail prices index
Headline rate (RPI)	1.3
All items excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX) – government’s target index	2.2
All items excluding mortgage interest payments and indirect taxes (RPIY)	1.6
Construction industry
Construction materials	–1.6
Housebuilding materials	–1.3
Machinery and equipment	0.7
Electrical machinery and apparatus	–2.5
Commodities
Aluminium	9.5
Copper	–6.9
Oil	69.6

Source: Office for National Statistics (July 1999 figures are provisional)

Materials prices
	% change on year
	(to June 1999)
Ready-mixed concrete	3.50%
Formwork	3%
Common bricks	10%
Aerated concrete blocks	2%
Pre-stressed concrete lintels	2.50%
Structural steel framing	–10%
Sawn softwood members	2.50%
Plywood	–12%
Concrete roof tiles	7.50%
Slates	4%
Built-up felt roofing	3%
Plasterboard	4%
Chipboard	–3%
Standard softwood windows	–2%
Standard softwood doors	2.50%
Glazing	1%
Plaster	2.50%
Ceramic wall tiles	7%
Vinyl floor coverings	1.50%
Paints	4.50%
Vitreous china sanitaryware	2.50%
Insulation	3%
Asphalt road coverings	5%
PVCu gutters and rainwater pipes	3%

Work categories with largest cost increases
Work category	Index title	% rise (July 1998 to July 1999)
3/44	Finishes: plaster	6.6
3/48	Finishes: painting and decorating	6.6
3/02	Excavation and disposal	5.6
3/11	Stonework	5.6
3/01	Demolitions	5.4
3/37	Windows and doors: steel	5.4
3/06	Concrete: in situ	5.3
3/45	Finishes: rigid tiles and terrazzo work	5.2
3/52	Pavings: slab and block	5.2
3/07	Concrete: formwork	5.0

Work categories with largest cost decreases
Work category	Index title	% fall (July 1998 to July 1999)
3/58	Pipes and accessories: copper	20.1
3/22	Cladding and covering: aluminium	9.5
3/13	Metal: decking	6.9
3/23	Cladding and covering: copper	6.5
3/17	Cladding and covering: coated steel	4.9
3/14	Metal: miscellaneous	4.8
3/18	Cladding and covering: plastics	2.3
3/34	Raised access floors	2.3
3/15	Cladding and covering: glazed	1.8
3/32	Linings and partitions: self finished	1.6
3/54	Fencing	1.5

Heating and ventilation operatives’ rates
	£/hour
Foreperson	8.73
Senior craftsperson (and second welding skill)	7.79
Senior craftsperson	7.48
Craftsperson (and second welding skill)	7.17
Craftsperson	6.86
Operative	6.23
Improver	6.23
Assistant	5.87
Adult trainee	5.25
Mate (over 18)	5.25
Mate (17-18)	3.37
Mate (under 17)	2.43
Note: Rates do not apply to Northern Ireland

Plumbers’ rates
England and Wales
	£/hour
Operatives
Technical plumber and gas service technician	8
Advanced plumber and gas service engineer	7.2
Trained plumber and gas service fitter	6.17
Apprentices
Fourth year of training with NVQ level 3	5.98
Fourth year of training with NVQ level 2	5.42
Fourth year of training	4.76
Third year of training with NVQ level 2	4.7
Third year of training	3.87
Second year of training	3.43
First year of training	3
Adult trainees
Third; six months of employment	5.39
Second; six months of employment	5.16
First; six months of employment	4.83
Note: The above rates include a tool allowance that was previously a separate weekly allowance

Scotland and Northern Ireland
	£/hour
Plumber and gas service fitter	6.37
Advanced plumber and gas service engineer	7.12
Technician plumber and gas service technician	7.94
Plumbing labourer	5.62

Build-up of the annual cost of a notional 11-person gang
	Foreperson	Senior craftsperson (with seconds welding skill)	Senior craftsperson	Craftsperson	Mate (over 18)	Apprentice (intermediate)	Sub-totals
Number	1	1	2	2	4	1
Hourly rate from 23 August 1999	8.73	7.79	7.48	6.86	5.25	4.83
Working hours a year	1748	1748	3496	3496	6992	1748
£/year	15 260.04	13 616.92	26 150.08	23 982.56	36 708.00	8442.84	124 160.44
Incentive scheme @ 5%	763	680.85	1 307.50	1 199.13	1835.4	422.14	6208.02
Daily travel allowance	3.49	3.49	3.49	3.49	3	3
Days/year	230	230	460	460	920	186
£/year	802.7	802.7	1605.4	1605.4	2760	558	8134.2
Average daily travel fare	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.3
Days/year	230	230	460	460	920	186
£/year	1909	1909	3818	3818	7636	1543.8	20 633.80
National Insurance contributions
Average weekly gross pay each (subject to NI)	370.78	333.27	320.9	296.16	229.48	208.89
% contributions (above £83 a week)	12.2	12.2	12.2	12.2	12.2	12.2
£ contributions each	35.11	30.53	29.02	26.01	17.87	15.36
£ contributions/year	1615	1404.52	2670.21	2392.55	3288.07	706.5	12 076.86
Holiday credit and welfare contributions
Number of weeks	52	52	104	104	208	52
Total weekly contribution	40.04	36.68	36.68	32.66	25.06	19.19
£ contributions/year	2082.08	1907.36	3814.72	3396.64	5212.48	997.88	17 411.16
Total per year							188 624.48
Training, including any trade registrations (1%)							1886.24
Severance pay and sundry costs (1.5%)							2829.37
Employers liability and third-party insurance (2%)							3772.49
Annual cost of notional 11-person gang (10.5 people actually working)							197 112.58
Annual cost per productive person							18 772.63
All in work-hour cost (based on 1748 hours)							10.74