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Indices for the construction sector

See the statistics on quarterly cost developments of housing constructions (BYG42) and civil engineering projects (BYG61), yearly price developments for construction of dwellings (PRIS90) and renovation and maintenance work (PRIS91), and monthly statistics on productivity in the construction sector (BYGPRO).
The statistics are used to regulate building contracts and monitor general economic trends.

Explainer on…

A price index is used to track relative price changes. The price index measure average price changes between two time periods by comparing the price index in the two periods.

Selected statistics on Indices for the construction sector

This page shows selected popular statistics on the subject of Indices for the construction sector. In Statbank Denmark, you can find more data and compile your own statistics.

Construction cost index for residential buildings

Shown here are cost developments related to housing constructions in Denmark over the past two years, listed for materials, labour costs and buildings in total, respectively.
More about the figure
Last update
8.3.2024
Next update
7.6.2024
Source data

Most data used in the construction cost index for residential buildings is gathered from other statistics at Statistics Denmark. Prices of materials and equipment are collected from the Price Index for Domestic Supply. Around 950 different material prices are collected every month from producers and importers, cf the documentation of statistics for Producer and Import Price Index for Commodities. Prices are also gathered from Molio Prisdata.

Prices of transportation are collected quarterly from the Producer price index for services, from which prices of Freight transport by road and removal services are used.

The prices of total labor costs are mainly collected from the implicit indices of average earnings. The prices are collected each quarter and refer to the second month of the quarter, cf the documentation of statistics for Implicit index of average earnings.

Weighing of different cost units in the construction cost index is based on three concrete buildings: One one-family house, one semi-detached house, and one multi-family house. The buildings were chosen as representation of typical housing constructions on the basis of an analysis of actual housing constructions during the weight reference period (2015), primarily on the basis of the Dwelling- and Housing Register (BBR) . The data for the three types of buildings are obtained from contractors of different size and geographic location. A consulting contractor specialized in pricing of housing construction was involved in the processing of the data.

Construction cost index for residential buildings (2015=100)

Shown here are index values for the five most recent quarters regarding the construction of one-family houses, multi-family houses and houses in total, respectively.
More about the figure
Last update
8.3.2024
Next update
7.6.2024
Source data

Most data used in the construction cost index for residential buildings is gathered from other statistics at Statistics Denmark. Prices of materials and equipment are collected from the Price Index for Domestic Supply. Around 950 different material prices are collected every month from producers and importers, cf the documentation of statistics for Producer and Import Price Index for Commodities. Prices are also gathered from Molio Prisdata.

Prices of transportation are collected quarterly from the Producer price index for services, from which prices of Freight transport by road and removal services are used.

The prices of total labor costs are mainly collected from the implicit indices of average earnings. The prices are collected each quarter and refer to the second month of the quarter, cf the documentation of statistics for Implicit index of average earnings.

Weighing of different cost units in the construction cost index is based on three concrete buildings: One one-family house, one semi-detached house, and one multi-family house. The buildings were chosen as representation of typical housing constructions on the basis of an analysis of actual housing constructions during the weight reference period (2015), primarily on the basis of the Dwelling- and Housing Register (BBR) . The data for the three types of buildings are obtained from contractors of different size and geographic location. A consulting contractor specialized in pricing of housing construction was involved in the processing of the data.

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Producer and import price index for commodities
Product prices from this index are used in the calculation of the construction cost indices

Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects

Shown here are cost developments of different types of civil engineering projects in Denmark over the past two years.
More about the figure
Last update
8.3.2024
Next update
7.6.2024
Source data

The data used in Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects are mostly obtained from other statistics produced by Statistics Denmark.

Prices of materials and equipment are collected from the Price Index for Domestic Supply, which gathers prices from producers and importers on a monthly basis. For more information see the documentation of statistics for Producer and Import Price Index for Commodities. Prices of transportation are collected quarterly from the Producer price index for services, from which prices of Freight transport by road and removal services are used.

Up to April 2004 material and equipment costs were calculated on the basis of actual prices paid by producers/ importers excl. VAT. This means that the prices used were net of discounts of the actual sale of the materials or equipment. As of April 2004, the prices collected are the importers' purchasing price c.i.f. (i.e. including cost, insurance and freight) excl. taxes and fees, instead of the final sales prices that were collected previously.

Labor costs are calculated based on the collective agreements between the Danish Association of Builders (Dansk Byggeri) and the United Federation of Workers in Denmark (3F), as include wage rates and social costs.

All indices in the Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects are calculated for both with and without unemployment benefits.

The basis for the weights for earth work, asphalt work, concrete structures, and iron structures were developed in cooperation with the Danish Road Directorate, DSB and the Danish Construction Federation in 1976 based on an analysis of a ongoing and completed civil engineering project. The weights reflect the shares of labor costs, material costs and equipment costs of the total costs of performing civil-engineering projects. The weight basis is reevaluated approximately every 5 years, lastly in 2015, where the original weight basis was found to still be adequate.

The weighting scheme for the cost index for road construction is set up in cooperation with the Danish Road Directorate on the basis of an analysis of a range of finished road constructions. The indices for earth works, asphalt works and concrete structures are used directly in the calculation of the cost index for roads. The three indices have weights of 38 pct. for earth works, 41,5 pct. for asphalt works and 20,5 pct. for concrete structures.

Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects (2015=100)

Shown here are index values for the five most recent quarters for indices and subindices in the construction cost indices for civil engineering projects.
More about the figure
Last update
8.3.2024
Next update
7.6.2024
Source data

The data used in Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects are mostly obtained from other statistics produced by Statistics Denmark.

Prices of materials and equipment are collected from the Price Index for Domestic Supply, which gathers prices from producers and importers on a monthly basis. For more information see the documentation of statistics for Producer and Import Price Index for Commodities. Prices of transportation are collected quarterly from the Producer price index for services, from which prices of Freight transport by road and removal services are used.

Up to April 2004 material and equipment costs were calculated on the basis of actual prices paid by producers/ importers excl. VAT. This means that the prices used were net of discounts of the actual sale of the materials or equipment. As of April 2004, the prices collected are the importers' purchasing price c.i.f. (i.e. including cost, insurance and freight) excl. taxes and fees, instead of the final sales prices that were collected previously.

Labor costs are calculated based on the collective agreements between the Danish Association of Builders (Dansk Byggeri) and the United Federation of Workers in Denmark (3F), as include wage rates and social costs.

All indices in the Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects are calculated for both with and without unemployment benefits.

The basis for the weights for earth work, asphalt work, concrete structures, and iron structures were developed in cooperation with the Danish Road Directorate, DSB and the Danish Construction Federation in 1976 based on an analysis of a ongoing and completed civil engineering project. The weights reflect the shares of labor costs, material costs and equipment costs of the total costs of performing civil-engineering projects. The weight basis is reevaluated approximately every 5 years, lastly in 2015, where the original weight basis was found to still be adequate.

The weighting scheme for the cost index for road construction is set up in cooperation with the Danish Road Directorate on the basis of an analysis of a range of finished road constructions. The indices for earth works, asphalt works and concrete structures are used directly in the calculation of the cost index for roads. The three indices have weights of 38 pct. for earth works, 41,5 pct. for asphalt works and 20,5 pct. for concrete structures.

Producer price index for construction of dwellings

Shown here is the price development over the past two years for construction of new one-family houses in Denmark. Prices include the producer’s direct costs and profit, but exclude taxes, land value, and further costs unrelated to the actual construction.
More about the figure
Last update
4.4.2024
Next update
3.7.2024
Source data

The Producer Price Index for Construction of Dwellings is calculated on the basis of prices, reported by selected companies engaged in construction of one-family houses. The sample is selected using a top-down approach by turnover. The collected prices cover 30 to 40 pct. of completed free standing one-family houses i Denmark every quarter. Furthermore, the price information is enriched with information from the Danish Buildings and Dwellings Register. Currently, only data on free standing one-family houses are collected. This is due to the fact, that construction of one-family houses typically are carried out by just one entrepreneur with one final sales price. Construction of multi-storey buildings typically requires several entrepreneurs that may not have a final sales price for the whole building, which complicates the data collection process.

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Statistics for real property sales
Prices of new dwellings may be compared to sales prices of existing real property

Producer price index for renovation and maintenance

Shown here is the two-year development of the price of renovation and maintenance work carried out by Danish craftsmen in Denmark. Prices include the producer’s direct costs and profit, but exclude taxes and further costs unrelated to the actual work.
More about the figure
Last update
4.4.2024
Next update
3.4.2025
Source data

The producer price index for refurbishment and maintenance are calculated on the basis of prices reported by selected companies. The sample is selected using a top-down approach, where the largest companies, based on turnover, are selected for price reporting.

Index of production in construction (IPC)

Shown here is the development of productivity in the construction sector over the past five years. The statistics are based on performed work hours.
More about the figure
Last update
29.2.2024
Source data

The IPC is based on WTA, which are exclusively based on existing data sources, which are subsequently converted to the concepts used in the WTA.

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Indexation
Do you need to adjust a contract according to an index? See the most used indices for adjustment of contracts and prices and read our guide on how to use price indices for adjustment.

On the statistics – documentation, sources and method

Gain an overview of the purpose, contents and quality of the statistics. Learn about the data sources of the statistics, the contents of the statistics and how often they are published.

See the documentation of statistics to learn more:

Construction cost index for residential buildings

The construction cost index for residential buildings reflects the evolution of housing construction costs in Denmark. The index is used, among other things, to regulate building contracts. The primary users of this index are construction organizations, entrepreneurs, housing developer, professional craftsmen, solicitors, public institutions and the EU. The construction cost index has been published since the first quarter of 2003 and replaces the former construction cost index.

Documents

Construction Cost Indices for Civil Engineering Projects

The Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects show the trends in prices for construction of civil engineering projects in Denmark. It is used, among other things, for regulation of building contracts, and for following the economic conjuncture in the construction industry. The statistics have been compiled in various forms since 1959, but in its current form the indices for earth work, asphalt work, concrete structures, and iron structures are comparable from 1976 and onwards. The index for roads is comparable from 1996 and onwards.

Index of Production in Construction

The purpose of Index for Production in Construction (IPC) is to illustrate the business trends in the sector. These statistics have been compiled since autumn 2014, but is in its current form comparable from January 2000 and onwards.

Producer price index for construction of dwellings

Producer price index for construction of dwellings demonstrates trends in prices at the first stage of commercial transactions for the construction of free standing one-family houses, i.e. the producer price incl. direct construction costs and profits, but excl. VAT, cost of land and other costs not directly linked to the construction. The statistic is typically used in analyses of price developments in the construction sector. It has been compiled since 2019 with indices dating back to 2015.

Producer price index for renovation and maintenance

The purpose of the Producer price index for renovation and maintenance is to track the development of producer prices of renovation and maintenance tasks performed by Danish construction and craftsman companies. This covers the prices of services incl. the producer's direct costs and their profits, but excl. VAT. The statistics has been produced since 2017 with data for 2014 and onwards. It is used primarily to evaluate price developments in the construction industry, and to regulate prices and contracts.

Need more data on Indices for the construction sector?

In the Statbank you can find further information on cost and price developments for e.g. different professions, building parts, and house types.

Contact

Peter Fink-Jensen
Phone: +45 39 17 31 88