Ghana’s Prime Building Cost Index (PBCI) has shown a further easing of construction inflation, with the September 2025 rate dropping to 9.7 percent, down from 12.0 percent recorded in August, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has announced.
The latest data marks the fifth consecutive month of decline, signalling a sustained slowdown in price pressures across the building and construction sector.
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, said overall prices of construction inputs fell by 0.4 percent between August and September.
He noted that month-on-month trends show a consistent decline in prices since June 2025, reflecting easing global supply constraints and a strengthening domestic market environment.
Providing a breakdown of the data, Dr. Iddrisu said labour inflation eased marginally to 15.1 percent in September, from 15.7 percent in August.
However, labour-related costs saw a slight month-on-month uptick of 0.1 percent, indicating persistent pressure in skilled labour demand.
On materials inflation, the rate slowed significantly to 8.4 percent, compared with 11.1 percent in August. Materials prices decreased by 0.5 percent month-on-month, contributing strongly to the overall decline in construction input costs.
Inflation for plant and equipment also moderated, falling to 8.2 percent in September from 10.8 percent in the previous month. Their month-on-month prices dropped by 1.0per cent, reflecting improved availability of machinery and reduced operational costs.
At the sub-group level, steel recorded the highest inflation at 19.0 percent, continuing to face significant price volatility driven by global market trends.
Reinforcement materials, however, posted the lowest inflation rate of -4.9 percent, signalling notable price reductions in that category.
Based on the continuous decline in construction-related inflation, Dr. Iddrisu advised households to consider beginning or resuming building projects while prices remain stable.
He encouraged phased construction as a strategy to manage cash flow and cushion against potential future cost increases.
For businesses, he recommended securing medium-term contracts at current price levels, warning that costs could rebound once market demand strengthens or global commodity prices shift.
To the government, the Statistician urged policymakers to prioritise incentives for local production of building materials to reduce import dependency and enhance price stability.
He also called for expanded training programmes for artisans and builders to address the persistent upward pressure on labour costs.
