In brief

• The costs of transport increased by 5.8 percent in March compared with February 2026 and were 6.7 percent higher than March 2025.
• The cost of diesel oil increased by 35.9 percent in March compared with February 2026 and were 29.2 percent higher than March 2025.
• The costs of electricity decreased by 18.2 percent in March compared with February 2026 and were 0.9 percent lower than March 2025.
• Interest costs increased by 0.2 percent in March compared with February 2026 but were 6.4 percent lower than March 2025.

Changes in the last month

The Construction Cost Index for multi-dwelling buildings increased by 0.4 percent between February and March 2026. This was due to the fact that the contractors’ costs rose by 0.4 percent, and the construction clients’ rose by 0.2 percent. These two groups account for 82 percent and 18 percent, respectively, of the Construction Cost Index.

Costs in the group ‘transport, fuel and electricity’ increased by 2.9 percent. Within that group, the cost of diesel oil and transport rose by 35.9 and 5.8 percent respectively, while the cost of electricity fell by 18.2 percent. Contractors’ overhead costs increased by 0.2 percent, while the costs of machinery and wages and salaries were unchanged.

Contractors’ costs for building materials increased by 0.4 percent in March 2026. Among the building material groups, the costs of concrete products rose the most by 1.1 percent. The costs of other building materials and iron and steel products rose by 0.8 and 0.5 percent respectively. The costs of wood products and woodwork both fell by 0.1 percent. The remaining material costs were unchanged or increased slightly between February and March 2026.

Construction clients’ costs increased by 0.2 percent in March 2026. Construction clients’ costs consist of interest and credit costs, costs for plans, and central administration. The increase in construction clients’ costs was mainly due to higher costs for central administration. ­­­

Changes in the last year

The Construction Cost Index for multi-dwelling buildings increased by 1.3 percent between March 2025 and March 2026. Contractors’ costs rose by 2.1 percent, which led to an upward contribution to the Construction Cost Index of 1.6 percentage points. Construction clients’ costs decreased by 1.4 percent, which led to a downward contribution to the Construction Cost Index of 0.3 percentage points. The decreased construction clients’ costs were due to lower interest costs, which decreased by 6.4 percent while the cost of official employee wages increased by 3.6 percent. The remaining construction clients’ costs increased by between 0.8 percent and 2.6 percent.

Contractors’ costs for ‘wages and salaries’ and overhead costs increased by 3.3 percent and 2.6 percent respectively, while costs for machinery decreased by 0.1 percent between March 2025 and March 2026. The costs for ‘transport, fuel and electricity’ increased by 7.3 percent compared to March 2025. Within this group the cost of electricity decreased by 0.9 percent while the costs of diesel oil and transport increased by 29.2 and 6.7 percent, respectively.

Contractors’ costs for building materials increased by 0.9 percent between March 2025 and March 2026. All costs in the building material groups rose except the costs of other building materials and iron and steel products including, which fell by 2.4 and 1.0 percent respectively. The costs of wood products and material for painting rose the most, by 5.1 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively.