Verisk Industry Trends for 2nd Quarter 2020

Materials

Material costs are highly variable and are sometimes impacted by factors such as fuel costs, changes to industry practices, or natural disasters. Xactware closely monitors a wide variety of material costs across the country to ensure its price lists reflect any recent changes to pricing.

In the first quarter of 2020, Xactware observed cost increases to the six key material categories tracked in this report. However, lumber material costs, which increased 0.84 percent over the quarter, showed a decrease of 1.52 percent since April 2019. Other significant annual trends occurred in the material costs of paint and interior trim which increased 6.42 percent and 5.82 percent respectively in the last year.

The Material Composite Index report tracks a combination of several commonly used material components, including floor covering, paint, and roofing. The index showed a 0.78 per cent decrease in the first quarter of 2020 and a 0.17 per cent increase since April 2020.

Labour

Xactware’s Pricing Data Services team also surveys thousands of contractors across the country each month to determine what they are charging for labour. The most significant change in the key labour categories occurred in the labour cost of a brick or stone mason which increased 4.36 per cent over the quarter and 12.09 per cent over the year.

The Retail Labour Index tracks a combination of several common trades, including floor covering, painting, and roofing. In the first quarter of 2020, the index showed a 2.09 per cent cost increase. Since April 2019, it showed a cost increase of 4.98 per cent.

However, the individual trades that contribute to the Retail Labour Index varied in their per cent change over the quarter. The most significant quarterly change occurred in the labour cost of a plasterer which increased 8.73 per cent since January.

Combined Trends

The Combined Labour and Materials report is based on monthly building cost data published by Xactware. It comprises a set of commonly used items and may be used as an indicator of trends within the marketplace. The combination of labour and materials makes up the majority of Xactware price list items. Tracking the per cent change for the cost of these items provides a good gauge of the general market.

The Combined Labour and Materials report showed a cost increase of 0.92 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 and a 2.43 per cent increase over the year.

Fuel Costs

Fuel costs are extremely volatile and are a factor in item pricing, since low oil prices can push down the price of some raw materials. Fuel prices decreased 35.38 per cent over the first quarter of 2020 and 40 per cent over the last year. Xactware’s Pricing Data Services carefully tracks fuel costs to ensure accurate pricing.

Where to Learn More

Annual Property Report

Xactware publishes annual property reports that focus on key trends during the previous calendar year. To order a copy of Xactware’s Property Report for Canada or the United States, please visit the Xactware Online Store.

Industry Trend Reports

Using Industry Trend Reports, Xactware customers can examine pricing trends on national, state or province, and local levels for key material and labour pricing changes in multiple trades. Trends can be viewed by the month or over extended periods of time. For more information about Xactware’s Industry Trend Reports, or to receive access to them, please contact your sales representative or call 1-800-424-9228.

Pricing Methodology White Paper

For more information about Xactware’s methodology for researching and publishing pricing information, please see the Pricing Research Methodology white paper on the eService Center.

Unless otherwise stated, the values reported in this bulletin are national averages for Canada and will vary from local prices.