The Brief, every month conducts a survey initiated in June 2023 to evaluate a basket of similar hardware items which customers are likely to purchase within a month. The survey is carried out across four hardware stores namely, Build It, BUCO, Pupkewitz Megabuild and Ark Trading.
The aim of the survey is to provide shoppers with guidance on which hardware wholesaler offers the cheapest basket of building materials for that particular month. Moreover, an analysis of changes in the basket is carried out in order to provide overall basket and item variations month on month.
The Following items are in the basket:
- Roofing Galvanized IBR
- Copper Tube 460 Class 0
- Aluminium Window (Bronze)
- Aluminum Sliding Door (Bronze)
- Brick 7 MPA
- Brickforce 150 MM 15M ROLL
- Brickforce 75MM 15M ROLL
- Lintel concrete 1200X110X75MM
- Lintel concrete 1800X110X75MM
- Lintel concrete 900X110X75MM
- Ceiling Board 1200X3000X6.4MM
- Door Frame Steel 813X2032X115X1MM
- Lockset 2 lever
- Door Hardboard Interior 813 X 2032 MM
- 32.5 Cement Ohorongo
- 42.5 Cement Ohorongo
- Paint 20 liters
The construction industry is stocked with a wide range of alternatives, with some providing cost-effective options compared to others. Therefore, our basket aims to precisely compare products of both similar quantity and quality.
For the month of February 2024, Pupkewitz unveiled a cheap basket costing N$ 6940.04 indicating a 7.26% decrease in the basket. Pupkewitz basket has shown significant product price decrease mainly due to changes in the product comparable over the month’s which was done.
The items that exhibited significant decreases include the Lockset Lever, which dropped from N$ 454.10 to N$ 84.94, and the Door Hardboard Interior, which decreased from N$ 514.99 to N$ 276.94.
Though having a decreased overall basket composition. The store also exhibited a price increase in their Roofing Galvanizer which increased from N$ 590.94 to N$ 650.95.
On the other hand Ark Trading overall basket composition increased slightly by 1.50%. This increase notably came from the price of their Roofing Galvanized IBR from N$ 718.00 to N$ 724.53 and their Door interior increasing from N$ 456.90 to N$ 513.19.
Both BUCO and BuildIt showed overall basket increases by 2.49% and 3.27% respectively.
In the broader economic context, the annual inflation rate for the Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels component, which constitutes a significant portion of the consumer basket, increased by 4.5% in January 2024. This indicates a general rise in prices within the housing and related sectors.
The increase in the overall basket is noticeable across three stores surveyed, namely BUCO, BuildIt, and Ark Trading.
Moreover, Inflation in the rental payments for dwellings, as mentioned in the context of the inflation rate which increased by 3.6% to 2.1%, can indirectly influence construction costs.
Higher rental costs may lead to increased demand for new construction, which can, in turn, affect the prices of construction materials and services.
*Note: The list of products we collect is limited and not intended to be an absolute measure of affordability. We aim for products to be broadly comparable.
In almost all cases it is possible to find any of these products at a cheaper price or to find cheaper alternatives, depending on location or time of month. Our sample is intended to simply reflect the total price of the cart in a single visit on a particular day.
Commodity Spotlight: Copper Tube 460 Class O 22mm*5.5m in Windhoek Hardware Stores
Each month, The Brief conducts a survey of 17 standardized items in four hardware stores in Windhoek. We will now conduct individual Commodity Spotlighting from the data collected over the months. The Commodity to be chosen will be done randomly.
For the month of February 2024, we have chosen the Copper Tube 460 Class O 22*5.5mm for a detailed analysis.
Over the nine months of the survey period, Pupkewitz Megabuild emerged as the most cost-effective choice, maintaining an average price of N$ 577.97.
Notably, the price trend for the Copper tube at Pupkewitz Megabuild showed a decline over the months. Starting at N$ 724.99 in June 2023, it progressively decreased to N$ 645.97 in September 2023 and further to N$ 568.94 by February 2024.
In contrast, BuildIt displayed a fluctuating and comparatively higher price for the Copper tube 460 Class O 22mm*5.5m. Starting at N$ 667.45 in June 2023, the price increased to N$ 759.70 in October 2023 and further rose to N$ 803.70 in December 2023, settling at N$ 629.99 in February 2024.
BUCO’s average for the item stood at N$ 643.91, while Ark Trading had an average price of N$ 621.31.
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