Construction material prices in Cyprus rose 3.74 per cent in September from a year earlier, with road asphalt up 21.07 per cent, according to the Statistical Service (Cystat).
The general Construction Materials Price Index reached 123.41 points, up 0.26 per cent from August.
Some of the largest annual increases were in materials whose production depends heavily on energy or oil. Road asphalt, which is oil-based, reached an index of 164.23, and asphalt concrete rose 19.01 per cent. Bricks, which are fired in high-temperature kilns, rose 9.26 per cent (index: 149.35). Plastic pipes, made from an oil derivative, rose 7.30 per cent (index: 139.02), and thermal insulation materials rose 4.89 per cent.
Wood products rose 5.49 per cent (index: 128.41), with cabinets and worktops up 9.67 per cent. Binders rose 2.42 per cent (index: 144.87), gypsum 2.77 per cent and Portland cement 0.67 per cent (index: 140.82). Reinforcing steel was up 0.87 per cent (index: 96.74), and iron railings rose 4.26 per cent.
Electrical and mechanical materials
Electrical and mechanical materials, a category that ranges from conduit, cables and switchboards to air conditioning, heating and plumbing installations, rose 0.63 per cent on the month and 4.08 per cent on the year.
Electrical materials recorded the sharpest rises in the category, up 1.18 per cent on the month and 8.38 per cent on the year (index: 143.59). Heating and cooling equipment was unchanged on the month and down 1.70 per cent on the year (index: 94.08).
