Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 1.0% quarter-to-quarter to MOP603 in the second quarter of 2013, and the average daily wage of local construction workers amounted to MOP738, up by 5.6%.

The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP614, an increase of 1.7% quarter-to-quarter, and that of unskilled workers was MOP379, up by 3.0%. Analysed by occupation, average daily wage of structural iron erectors amounted to MOP723, up by 11.2% quarter-to-quarter; however, average daily wage of electricians & electrical workers, and bricklayers & plasterers decreased by 4.6% and 3.8% respectively.

After discounting the effect of inflation, wage index of construction workers (87.5) decreased by 1.7% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, with that of electricians & electrical workers, and bricklayers & plasterers declining by 6.0% and 5.4% respectively; wage index of local construction workers (103.3) increased by 2.8% quarter-to-quarter in real terms.

As regards construction materials, average price of concrete increased continuously, amounting to MOP515 per cubic metre, an increase of 5.3% quarter-to-quarter; on the contrary, average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars decreased slightly by 0.6%, at MOP5,256 per tonne. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings stood at 121.1 in the second quarter of 2013, up by 1.0% quarter-to-quarter, of which the price index of concrete rose by 3.5%.