Cost of building inflation for August 2026 increases to 4.6% – GSS

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has reported that the Combined Prime Building Cost Index (PBCI) increased by 4.6% in August 2026 compared to the previous year. This index tracks the changes in the costs of constructing buildings, including key factors like materials, labor, and equipment, with 2023 as the base year. The PBCI is crucial for stakeholders such as investors, developers, contractors, and policymakers to make informed decisions regarding contracts, bids, budgets, and inflation trends in the building sector.

Year-on-year, the PBCI rose from 4.0% in July 2026 to 4.6% in August 2026. The Labour group saw a slight decrease in inflation rate to -2.9% from -3.2% in July. Meanwhile, the Material group experienced the highest year-on-year inflation rate at 5.8%, up from 5.1% in July. Conversely, the Plant group's inflation rate decreased to 17.9% from 18.0% in July, marking a decrease.

Sub-group analysis revealed that Plumbing had the highest inflation rate at 26.1%, significantly higher than the national average of 4.6%. On the other hand, Steel recorded the lowest inflation rate at -8.9%, indicating a decrease. Out of 23 sub-groups, 14 recorded inflation rates above the national average. This data underscores the complex dynamics within the building sector's cost structure.