2. The price indices of civil engineering

CBS publishes price indices for various areas within civil engineering. The price indices within a series reflect the price changes of the same project relative to a fixed period (in this case 2015). This is called a Laspeyres index. The price index of each distinct area of civil engineering is based on movements in the prices of the materials, equipment and labour required in the project. The series were calculated as follows:

To determine the type and quantity of materials, equipment and labour, for each area we used a representative project for which quantity tables and cost estimates were formulated. The quantity tables and cost estimates contain information on the required amount and costs of labour, materials and equipment involved in the execution of the project. Based on these costs the proportion (weight) of that component within the type of work as a whole is determined. The weights of the materials, equipment or service are then linked to an index series of producer prices (PPI), service prices (SPI) or consumer prices (CPI) for the type of material or equipment or the service concerned. The price indices in these series show the development of prices of goods or services placed on the market in the Netherlands. The development of labour costs is based on developments in collectively agreed wages. The combined data result in a price index that reflects the prices for each area of civil engineering.

In addition to the series for the various areas, a combined weighted index series is also published for these series: 42/43 Civil engineering. This compound series is discussed in further detail in section 3.2.3.

Annex 1 contains a summary of weights of 42/43 Civil engineering and the areas of civil engineering broken down into PPI (two-digit PRODCOM group), SPI, CPI and labour.