Verisk Industry Trends for 3rd 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 second quarter of 2020, Xactware observed cost increases to the six key material categories tracked in this report. Due to a focused survey during the second quarter of 2020, carpet material costs increased 5.05 percent over the quarter and 5.05 percent since July 2019.

The Material Composite Index report tracks a combination of several commonly used material components, including floor covering, paint, and roofing. The index showed a 0.53 percent increase in the second quarter of 2020 and a 0.5 percent increase since July 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. While labour cost of a brick or stone mason had the highest annual percent change with a 10.93 percent increase, the labour cost of a roofer had the highest quarterly percent change with a 3.56 increase.

The Retail Labour Index tracks a combination of several common trades, including floor covering, painting, and roofing. In the second quarter of 2020, the index showed a 1.64 percent cost increase. Since July 2019, it showed a cost increase of 5.48 percent.

However, the individual trades that contribute to the Retail Labour Index varied in their percent change over the quarter. The most significant quarterly change occurred in the labour cost of a stucco installer which increased 9.33 percent since April.

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 percent 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 0.68 percent in the second quarter of 2020 and a 2.47 percent 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. While fuel prices decreased 13.05 percent over the last year, they have increased 36.93 percent over the second quarter of 2020. Xactware’s Pricing Data Services carefully tracks fuel costs to ensure accurate pricing.

Personal Protective Equipment

Due to the current impacts of COVID-19, Xactware is closely monitoring the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE). Since March 2020, the average national cost of PPE items increased 42 percent. We will continue to monitor this situation and report changes as they arise. 

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.