Building inflation rises to 4.6% in August 2026 - GSS

According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana's building cost inflation soared to 4.6% in August 2026, up from 4.0% the previous month. Materials played a significant role in the increase, with year-on-year inflation reaching 5.8%, up from 5.1% in July. The PBCI shows that building costs were 4.6% higher than a year ago, with a marginal rise of 0.1% between July and August. The annual average building cost inflation for the 12 months ending August 2026 was 4.3%.

Materials, which make up 76.5% of the PBCI basket, accounted for 96.5% of the upward pressure on the headline rate. Plant costs, despite a slight moderation in annual inflation, remained a key risk, contributing 15.6% to the headline inflation. Labour costs provided some relief, with inflation falling to -2.9%, down from -3.2% in July, contributing -12.1% to the rate.

Key construction inputs like plumbing, reinforcement, and roofing saw the fastest price increases, while steel, cement, and fine aggregate prices declined. Electrical works and metalwork were the main contributors to the inflation rate, at 44.1% and 25.0%, respectively.