To fight against inflation, the government is launching a system for analyzing the production costs of building materials

The development of indices relating to the production costs of materials identified as priorities has already begun. Manufacturers are invited to provide information as soon as possible on a voluntary basis for publication of this indicator no later than next April.

Since the resumption of activity observed after the COVID-19 crisis, construction companies have been facing supply difficulties and rising prices of materials and raw materials. The rise in energy prices is further aggravating the already strong tensions in the sector. Faced with these important challenges, the Government has resolutely committed itself within the framework of the Assises du BTP to support companies and jobs in this sector which is essential to the national economy.

As part of the sector mediation led by the Business Mediator, the construction organizations formalized their commitments on July 11, 2022 by signing a declaration of responsibility and solidarity which addresses in particular the issues of supply of construction materials. In the continuity of this work, and to meet the need for visibility expressed by construction companies and their customers, Bruno Le Maire announced the availability of an objective and independent tool intended to enlighten the actors of the sector on the breakdown of the production costs of these materials.

Given his experience and his support work for the industry, particularly within the framework of industry mediation and the construction crisis committee, Bruno Le Maire has entrusted the Business Mediator with the task of conducting, in conjunction with the professional federations concerned, the work to implement this measure. During this work, it appeared that the development of "construction materials" cost indices, reflecting the changes in the various production cost factors, was likely to meet the need for visibility expressed by the endorsement of the sector, in times of high price volatility, to establish their quotes and contracts.

At the end of the work in which the DGCCRF and Insee were associated, Bruno Le Maire entrusted Insee with the role of trusted third party to collect, process and disseminate data relating to cost factors, in compliance with statistical confidentiality. . INSEE will develop, with industry players, “construction materials” production cost indices based on the methodology used for the construction and public works indices that it designs and distributes.

Bruno Le Maire says: “In a context of high price volatility, construction companies are legitimately concerned about the evolution of costs and want more visibility to better understand trends and above all better anticipate future developments. The implementation of production cost indices relating to construction materials should allow companies to draw up their quotes with full knowledge of the facts and their customers to have better visibility of the final prices. I have asked INSEE to collect this information as soon as possible, in order to publish a first index no later than next April. »