RAMALLAH, February 26, 2018 (WAFA) - The Construction Cost Index (CCI) for residential buildings decreased by 0.03% in the West Bank during January compared with December 2017, said the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on Monday.

The decrease was due to drop in rental of equipment by 0.21% and in the prices of raw materials by 0.04%. At the same time, labor wages remained stable during January.

The CCI for non-residential buildings also decreased by 0.04% in the West Bank during January compared with December mainly due to decrease in rental of equipment by 0.19% and in the prices of raw materials by 0.06%.  Labor wages remained stable.

No change was recorded in the CCI for skeleton buildings in January when compared to December, in spite of  a decrease in rental of equipment by 0.07% and an increase in the prices of raw materials by 0.01%. Labor wages remained stable.

The overall Road Cost Index (RCI) increased by 0.03% in the West Bank during January compared with December mainly due to the increase in operating costs of equipment and maintenance by 0.40% and in the prices of raw materials by 0.17%. Prices of rental of equipment decreased by 0.45% as  labor wages remained stable.

The overall Water Networks Cost Index (WNCI) also increased by 0.08% in the West Bank during January compared with December, Water Reservoirs Cost Index increased by 0.08%, and Water Networks Cost Index increased by 0.07%.

The overall Sewage Networks Cost Index (SNCI) also increased by 0.08% in the West Bank for the same period.

M.K.