RAMALLAH, January 26, 2017 (WAFA) – The Construction Cost Index (CCI) for residential buildings in the West Bank increased by 1.29% in 2016 compared with 2015, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said on Thursday.

CCI for non-residential buildings in the West Bank increased by 1.25% and by 0.95% for skeleton buildings.

Meanwhile, overall Road Cost Index (RCI) decreased by 3.83% in 2016 compared with 2015, Water Networks Cost Index (WNCI) increased by 0.68% and Sewage Networks Cost Index (SNCI) by 0.46%, said the PCBS.

December CCI for residential buildings increased by 0.61% compared with November due to rise in labor wages by 0.61%, prices of raw materials by 0.57%, and rental of equipment by 0.10%.

CCI for non-residential buildings also increased in December by 0.51% in the West Bank compared with November mainly due to the increase in labor wages by 0.61%, prices of raw materials by 0.40%, and rental of equipment by 0.12%.

CCI for Skeleton buildings also increased in December due to increase in prices of raw materials by 1.25%, labor wages by 1.07% and rental of equipment by 0.12%.

RCI December prices increased by 0.03% compared with November due to increase in labor wages by 1.60% and rental of equipment by 0.14%, while operating costs of equipment & maintenance decreased by 0.96%, and the prices of raw materials by 0.24%.

December WNCI increased by 0.46% compared with November, Water Reservoirs Cost Index increased by 1.25%, and Water Networks Cost Index increased by 0.14%.

Overall SNCI increased by 0.08% in the West Bank during December compared with November.

M.N./M.K.