The cost of diesel increased by 44.6% between July 2017 and 2018, according to a report examining construction costs in the Emirate published by Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

SCAD’s analysis of the prices of the 21 main groups of building materials also that both electrical wires for apartments (up 23.9%) and wires for small buildings (up 16.2%) also saw price increases.

Elsewhere, the average prices of tiles and marble fell by 0.7% and concrete by 0.5%.

There is better news in the short-term for diesel with SCAD’s analysis of prices between June 2018 and July 2018 demonstrating that the fuel fell by 1.8% between the two months. There were also price falls recorded for power cables of 4.8% and marble of 1.7%.

The average price of construction labour increased by 1.8% between June and July with concrete alsorising by 1.6% and aggregates and sand by 0.3%.

The report presents an analysis of movements in the prices of the 21 main groups of building materials and is of special significance for planning, decision support and policy making in the construction activity and related sectors, noted a statement published by the WAM news agency.