The cost of construction of new housing for residential use in Senegal increased by 2.4% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, according to data from the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) based in Dakar.
“This development is mainly due to the price of construction materials, the cost of labor and the rental of equipment,” explains ANSD. The prices of building materials rose 3.3%, attributable to the price of materials for wall and floor covering, basic materials and materials for electrical work. In annual variation, they increased by 4.2%. As for the prices of materials for wall and floor covering, they increased by 5.5%, in conjunction with the rise in those of floor tiles (+ 6.5%) and wall tiles (+ 3.7%) , following, according to the ANSD, the increase in customs tariffs on containers. Compared to the corresponding period in 2020, they appreciated by 6.7%.
“The increase in the prices of basic materials (+ 4.4%) is induced by the increase in the price of rebar (+ 15.5%), ordinary cement (+ 1.3%) and sand (+1, 2%) ”, notes the ANSD. However, gravel prices fell by 0.3% in the quarter under review. Compared to their level of the first quarter of 2020, these prices have strengthened by 5.8%.
As far as they are concerned, the prices of materials for electrical works rose 3.9% in the first quarter of 2021, following the increase in those of VGV cables (+ 9.0%). However, the contraction in the prices of distribution boxes (-1.6%) mitigated this upward trend. In annual variation, they experienced an increase of 3.4%.
For their part, the prices of plumbing and sanitary materials increased by 1.4% during the period under review, due to the increase in those of plastic pipes (+ 5.0%) and sanitary materials. for bathroom and WC (+ 0.7%). Compared to the first quarter of 2020, they increased by 2.3%.
The prices of joinery materials increased by 1.1%, driven by an appreciation in those of aluminum (+ 2.0%), metal (+ 0.8%) and red wood ( + 0.5%). In annual variation, they rose by 1.4%. As for the prices of paints, they increased by 0.3%, due to an increase in those of water-based paints (+ 0.5%). Year on year, they fell 0.2%.
A decline of 0.4% is noted by the ANSD in the prices of waterproofing materials in the first quarter of 2021, following the decline in those of coatings (-0.9%) and aluminum pax (-0.5 %). On an annual basis, these prices contracted by 0.7%.
Regarding the workforce, the ANSD argues that it increased by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter. “This development is the result of higher salaries for plumbers (+ 1.7%), electricians (+ 1.4%) and masons (+ 1.1%)”, underlines the ANSD. However, the fall in the remuneration of laborers (-0.9%), moulders (-0.6%) and scrap metal (-0.6%) mitigated this trend. Compared to the first quarter of 2020, the workforce increased by 6.5%.
Regarding the cost of equipment rental, it increased by 0.3% during the period under review, in connection with the increase in the rental cost of attached greenhouses (+ 3.1%) and boards (+ 0.4%). In annual variation, it increased by 0.4%.
The cost of management resources, for its part, fell by 0.1% on a quarterly basis, in line with the drop in prices for communication services (-5.5%). Compared to the corresponding period in 2020, it was down 0.4%. In annual variation, the cost of construction of new housing for residential use in Senegal increased by 4.8%.
