THE Building Material Cost Index (BCI) (with and without steel bars) has shown an increase in all building categories, said the Statistics Department.

It said the peninsula reported an increase between 0.3% and 3.1% last year, while Sabah saw an increase of 0.1%-3.1% and Sarawak saw an increase of 0.4-2.4% during the same period.

Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the increase in building material prices last year was inevitable due to the increase in raw material prices.

“Most building materials showed an increase in costs, especially steel, whose prices have been rising since last January.

“Other building materials such as cement also recorded an increase in costs. This contributed to the increase in BCI for all building categories in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.” – Bernama, January 10, 2022.