cost and price indices

12
Engineering Costs and Production Economics, 8 (1984) 3 - 14 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands 3 COST AND PRICE INDICES Norman Boyd 1983 was an auspicious year, the first in which costs and prices showed signs of level- ling off after many years of continuous escala- tion. The indices of erected costs of plants (Table 4) show that in four countries: West Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Japan, the Jan. 1984 indices are virtually the same as those for a year earlier. Of the remaining nine countries, Italy has the largest increase at 12.6%, followed by Denmark with Il. l%, Sweden with 10.7% and France 9.2%. Belgium, the U.K., Australia, Norway and the U.S.A. have increases in the range S-71/2%. If these increases in 1983 are com- pared with those for 1982 reported in an earlier issue [ 11, they show a reduction in the rate of escalation of about lo%, except for Sweden, with a reduction of less than 3%, and the U.S.A. which remained unaltered at about 6% per year escalation. The question which now arises is whether this stabilisation of price levels will continue or does it represent only a temporary halt in price escalation: does it signify a peak or a plateau. ERECTED COSTS OF PLANTS The method used to assess erected plant costs, and hence the indices, has been described in earlier issues [2, 31 but essentially it incor- porates prices of cement and three steel prod- ucts and hourly labour costs in the mechanical engineering and construction industries in pro- portions which vary for different countries. An examination of Table 1 will show that in most countries the 1982 average prices for the three steel products, reinforcing rod, sections and plate have carried through to 1983 with little alteration. Prices of reinforcing rod have fallen and those for plate have risen in some instances. For cement, 1983 annual average prices are generally higher than those of 1982, but the effect of cement prices an overall plant costs is not large. Of the thirteen coun- tries covered, only three, West Germany, the Netherlands and Japan show a reduction in the total materials cost content. For Canada and the U.K. the materials cost content is virtually the same for 1983 as for 1982. The remaining eight countries all show an increase in the total materials cost content for 1983. The hourly labour costs used in assessing the erected costs of plants are in mechanical engineering (ISIC 382) and construction (ISICS). Hourly earnings (Table 2) and hourly labour costs (Table 3) in these industries rose in all countries in the twelve months from October 1982, except for construction in Canada where there was a fall of about 10%. In general, costs rose at a slower rate than in the previous twelve months, and in some countries -notably West Germany and the Netherlands, were small as a percentage. The net result on the erected costs of plants of these changes is that, for West Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, the reduction in the materials cost content offset the increase in the labour cost element in the last year, while for Canada the very small increase in materials cost was offset by the decrease in labour costs. 0167-188X/84/$03.00 0 1984 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

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Engineering Costs and Production Economics, 8 (1984) 3 - 14 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands

3

COST AND PRICE INDICES

Norman Boyd

1983 was an auspicious year, the first in which costs and prices showed signs of level- ling off after many years of continuous escala- tion. The indices of erected costs of plants (Table 4) show that in four countries: West Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Japan, the Jan. 1984 indices are virtually the same as those for a year earlier. Of the remaining nine countries, Italy has the largest increase at 12.6%, followed by Denmark with Il. l%, Sweden with 10.7% and France 9.2%. Belgium, the U.K., Australia, Norway and the U.S.A. have increases in the range S-71/2%. If these increases in 1983 are com- pared with those for 1982 reported in an earlier issue [ 11, they show a reduction in the rate of escalation of about lo%, except for Sweden, with a reduction of less than 3%, and the U.S.A. which remained unaltered at about 6% per year escalation. The question which now arises is whether this stabilisation of price levels will continue or does it represent only a temporary halt in price escalation: does it signify a peak or a plateau.

ERECTED COSTS OF PLANTS

The method used to assess erected plant

costs, and hence the indices, has been described

in earlier issues [2, 31 but essentially it incor- porates prices of cement and three steel prod- ucts and hourly labour costs in the mechanical engineering and construction industries in pro- portions which vary for different countries. An examination of Table 1 will show that in most

countries the 1982 average prices for the three steel products, reinforcing rod, sections and plate have carried through to 1983 with little alteration. Prices of reinforcing rod have fallen and those for plate have risen in some instances. For cement, 1983 annual average prices are generally higher than those of 1982, but the effect of cement prices an overall plant costs is not large. Of the thirteen coun- tries covered, only three, West Germany, the Netherlands and Japan show a reduction in the total materials cost content. For Canada and the U.K. the materials cost content is virtually the same for 1983 as for 1982. The remaining eight countries all show an increase in the total materials cost content for 1983.

The hourly labour costs used in assessing the erected costs of plants are in mechanical engineering (ISIC 382) and construction (ISICS). Hourly earnings (Table 2) and hourly labour costs (Table 3) in these industries rose in all countries in the twelve months from October 1982, except for construction in Canada where there was a fall of about 10%. In general, costs rose at a slower rate than in the previous twelve months, and in some countries -notably West Germany and the Netherlands, were small as a percentage.

The net result on the erected costs of plants of these changes is that, for West Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, the reduction in the materials cost content offset the increase in the labour cost element in the last year, while for Canada the very small increase in materials cost was offset by the decrease in labour costs.

0167-188X/84/$03.00 0 1984 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

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Indices of average hourly earnings of adult manual a workers in selected industries (1914 = 100)

Country ISlC b 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.

Local Equivalent

currency U.S. $

Belgium 351 B.Fr. 371

382

5

FIPtIW 351 F.Fr. 371

382

5

German Fed. Rep. 351 DM

Italy

Netherlands

U.K.

Australia

Canada

U.S.A.

Denmark

Norway

Sweden

Japan

371

382

5

351 Lire

371

382

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37

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5

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35112 Pound

371

382

5

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37

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5

157.25 4.01

171.89 4.38

133.94 3.42

130.07 3.32

12.02 2.54

11.71 2.48

11.04 2.33

10.08 2 13

11.02 4.16

10.05 3.80

9.89 3.73

10.00 3.78

1486 2.25

1542 2.34

1325 2.01

1255 1.90

10.60 3.93

10.73 3.98

9.47 3.51

9.70 3.60

1.17 2.74

1.16 2.71

1.10 2.57

1.04 2.43

3.79 4.98

3.73 4.90

3.42 4.50

3.55 4.67

35112 Can. $

37112

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5

351 U.S. $

371

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5

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5.43 5.51

5.13 5.20

6.77 6.87

5.56

5.81

5.09

6.99

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38213

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382

5

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27.92 4.56

29.17 4.77

22.12 4.00

23.39 4.23

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35 Sw.Kr.

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20.90 4.71

19.37 4.3s

22.45 5.06 (12 months to Dec.1974)

35112 Yen 1115.8 3.74

371 1126.1 3.78

382 940.8 3.16

5 722.8 2.43

118 131 147 152 165 108 122 132 137 157 114 125 137 142 156 116 132 146 150 167

114 129 145 165 190 121 136 152 168 189 115 135 153 169 189 115 137 154 171 195

106 115 I 24 127 128 105 113 120 126 133 108 114 123 129 135 104 110 117 124 134

122 161 190 232 291 124 154 183 205 255 124 158 188 210 262 12s 158 187 218 279

115 123 134 141 148 109 120 130 139 147 112 120 130 137 143 114 123 135 148 162

128 140 150 174 208 130 147 158 I84 209 126 140 IS5 177 207 128 143 157 17s 201

113 127 139 150 173 112 128 144 150 165 108 123 135 143 157 112 I28 141 149 I62

113 128 140 150 161 116 127 141 152 166 115 126 136 147 162 119 132 148 156 167

110 122 133 142 110 120 135 149 108 115 126 136 106 113 118 i?7

154 164 148 136

(3rd Qr)

115 129 143 159 177 119 131 142 160 177 ’ 14 129 144 160 180

113 137

118 140 116 136

165

168

165

121 135 120 132

118 130

119 133

153

155

151

145

141

141

149

153

151

149

158

163

173

171

(4th Qr)

169

167

161

170

(-Dec.1975) (-Dec.1976) (-Dec.1977) (-Dec.1978) (-Dec.)

112 121 132 139 151

118 126 I38 143 150

114 122 133 139 150

117 132 148 160 172

a For Japan, manual and non-manual workers. including holiday pay (see: Vol. 5, pp. 75-77)

b lntemational Standard Industrial C1assification:

35 Manufachtre of chemicals 353 Petroleum refineries

351 Manufacture of industrial chemicals 37 Basic metal industries

352 Manufacture of other chemicals 371 Iron and steel basic industries

7

1980

ApI. Oct.

1981

Apr. Oct.

I983

Apr. Oct.

1983

Apr. Oct.

177 I83 198 164 172 186 164 169 I89R 174 180 l94R

203 219 230 247 272 203 218 226 249 273 201 227 230 2531 276H 210 227 243 263 289

208 200 200 202 284 289 289 296

300 304 306 317

221 p 212p 212 p 214 p 315 315 317 332

137 137 142 146 149 153 157 159 141 I41 144 149 I56 154 161 160

143 146 I48 153 I58 159 162 164

I41 144 147 I51 I53 156 161 162

316 351 381 414 443 477 512 543 277 313 353 385 4n9 442 476 507 284 321 363 395 419 453 490 523

301 327 374 406 44x 484 518 p 547 p

155 I54 I53 170

228 247 259 232 247 261 230 240 255 227 247 259

165 164 162 180

275 272 263 266

175 178 172 17s 171 172 190 193

283R 295 313 325 291 296 313 320 282 286 301 306 2R3 289 306 309

I95 21n 246 258 p 192 214R 249 261 p I75 204R 244 256 p I81 215R 280 263 p

177 186 I72 183 169 176 173 186

209 221 228 232 240 214 226 240 240 252 202 209 216 219 222 212 216 228 207 202

I58 170 I54 138 (1st Qr)

169 180 164 147

197 192 188 194

17Y 193 170 149

(3rd Qr) (1st Qr)

189 I91 I95

162 185 184 172 198 196 I71 189 190 (2nd Qr) (4th Qr) (2nd Qr)

174 I85 201 172 179 192 166 I75 187 179 190 200 (-June) (-Dec.) (-June)

I57 I65 169 152 162 I58 I54 I61 I65 176 183 192

I91 I95 204 206 197 203 208 196 178 182 183 186 I58 162 169 170 (3rd Qr) (1st Qr) (3rd Qr) (1st Qr)

2lOR 233 208R 232 2llR 240

199 196 222 221 211 209 232 232 204 209 230 228 (4th Qr) (2nd Qr) (4th QI) (2nd Qr)

203 216 213 231 194 209 209 224 194 206 210 220 203 213 208 219 (-Dec.) (-June) (-Dec.) (-June)

173 177 186 177 175 179 182 179 I71 176 181 176 198 201 205 201.

215 195 192 172 (3rd Qr)

246 241 252 p

233 248 235 (4th Qr)

236 228 225 223 (-Dec.)

194 187 184 213

372 Non-ferrous metal basic industries 381 Manufacture of fabricated metal products. excl. machinery 382 Manufacture of machinery excl. electrical

383 Manufacture of electrical machinery 5 Construction

TA

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37

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5 55

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1973

19

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1975

19

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1977

19

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1979

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1981

19

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18.9

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144

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138

156

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120

130

118

126

116

126

112

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166

196

161

192

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194

159

190

124

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122

133

122

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205

217

230

p 14

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148

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194R

20

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155

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21

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6 p

163

180

192

217R

24

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23

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U.K

. 35

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56

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stra

lia

3511

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n

3511

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. $

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N.K

r.

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&.

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. $

1.60

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75

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4.81

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4.74

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4.34

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4.51

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152

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184

5.93

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118

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7.99

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4.

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1306

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168

197R

6.

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115

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166

8.95

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313

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389

280

305

278

295

219

258

222

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260

213R

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4 R

26

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8 23

1 21

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1 18

7 17

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182

166

241

269

232

244

196

196

190

216

227

237

235

249

235

244

251

212

252R

18

8 17

7

347

423

329

325

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28

1 p

214

p 28

2 p

251

286

242

219

207

205

197

221

241

255

242

278

256

263

268

230

238

203

188

Indi

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y at

Oct

ober

of

eac

h y

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un

less

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erw

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stat

ed.

aan

dbS

eeT

able

1.

10

TABLE 4

Indices of erected costs of plants (a)

As at Jan. 1 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

Belgium 0.61 0.61 0.68 0.79 1.00 1.09 1.16 1.27 1.29 1.40 1.50 1.64 1.89 2.00 p Denmark 0.59 0.59 0.67 0.76 1.00 1.02 1.06 1.16 1.27 1.38 1.54 1.64 1.99 2.20 France 0.59 0.64 0.70 0.79 1.00 1.13 1.25 1.34 1.46 1.59 1.82 2.05 2.50 2.73 W. Germany 0.68 0.75 0.80 0.88 1 .oo 1.03 1.07 1.11 1.14 1.21 1.29 1.38 1.53 1.52 Italy 0.50 0.54 0.57 0.74 1.00 1.19 1.43 1.67 1.92 2.27 2.67 3.15 3.89 4.38 Netherlands 0.60 0.67 0.70 0.78 1.00 1.09 1.14 1.22 1.18 1.24 1.31 1.42 1.54 1.51 U.K. 0.56 0.64 0.71 0.78 1.00 1.30 1.45 1.61 1.76 2.04 2.35 2.56 2.78 2.92 Australia 0.59 0.66 0.69 0.78 1.00 1.15 1.33 1.46 1.57 1.71 1.93 2.15 2.58 2.77 p Canada 0.70 0.73 0.77 0.86 1.00 1.20 1.33 1.46 1.56 1.76 1.95 2.24 2.46 2.42 Japan 0.62 0.63 0.69 0.78 1 .oo 1.11 1.26 1.39 1.50 1.58 1.70 1.79 1.84 1.84 Norway 0.63 0.69 0.74 0.83 1.00 1.10 1.22 1.35 1.45 1.53 1.69 1.79 2.07 2.18 Sweden 0.59 0.65 0.69 0.81 1.00 1.05 1.16 1.24 1.37 1.49 1.67 1.81 2.05 2.26

U.S.A. 0.71 0.77 0.82 0.87 1 .oo 1.11 1.18 1.27 1.39 1.53 1.68 1.85 1.96 2.09

(a) For method used to calculate costs and indices see Eng. Cost Prod. Econ., 6 (1982) 272 and, 7 (1982) 18.

CURRENCY CHANGES

Except for the Canadian dollar which re- mained tied and the Japanese yen which ap- preciated by about 4%, currencies (Table 5) continued to depreciate in 1983 against the U.S. dollar. Falls ranged from 6% for the deutschemark and 8% for the guilder to 23% for the Swedish kronor. The remaining eight

currencies depreciated by from 10% to 17%. The effect of these changes on hourly labour costs, materials prices and erected costs of plants relative to U.S.A. costs are ‘shown in Tables 6, 7 and 8 respectively. The last of these would indicate that the range of erected costs of plants is continuing to narrow and that plants in the U.S.A. are becoming more expensive related to the other twelve countries.

TA

BL

E

5

Cu

rren

cy e

xch

ange

rat

es r

elat

ive

to U

.S.

doll

ar.

1981

19

82

1983

Fir

st

Sec

ond

An

nu

al

Apr

. 1

Fir

st

Oct

. 1

Sec

ond

An

nu

al

Apr

. 1

Fir

st

Oct

. 1

Sec

ond

An

nu

al

hal

f h

alf

aver

age

hal

f h

alf

aver

age

hal

f h

alf

aver

age

Bel

giu

m

B.F

r.

35.3

38

.5

36.4

45

.2

43.5

48

.95

46.4

6 44

.54

48.2

0 41

.45

53.2

0 53

.40

50.3

5 D

enm

ark

D.K

r.

6.15

1.

39

6.91

8.

22

8.02

8.

83

8.56

8.

24

8.59

8.

68

9.41

9.

53

9.10

F

ran

ce

F.F

r.

5.09

5.

66

5.30

6.

25

6.26

7.

13

6.89

6.

52

1.21

7.

20

1.96

8.

01

7.60

W

. G

erm

any

DM

2.

16

2.32

2.

21

2.41

2.

37

2.52

2.

45

2.40

2.

43

2.44

2.

62

2.64

2.

54

Ital

y L

ie

1060

12

17

1127

13

21

1302

14

19

1390

13

37

1445

14

37

1587

15

88

1514

N

eth

erla

nds

G

uil

der

2.39

2.

57

2.44

2.

61

2.62

2.

77

2.70

2.

65

2.74

2.

73

2.93

2.

96

2.85

U

.K.

Pou

nd

0.46

4 0.

530

0.49

1 0.

560

0.55

2 0.

589

0.59

4 0.

572

0.67

4 0.

648

0.67

4 0.

676

0.66

3

Au

stra

lia

A.$

0.

861

0.87

9 0.

869

0.95

2 0.

939

1.05

3 1.

016

0.91

7 1.

155

1.10

4 1.

117

1.12

5 1.

109

Can

ada

Can

.$

1.19

1.

20

1.19

1.

23

1.24

1.

24

1.26

1.

24

1.23

1.

23

1.23

1.

24

1.23

Ja

pan

Y

en

214

221

219

246

240

269

251

244

239

236

234

23.5

23

5 N

orw

ay

N. K

r.

s .5

4 5.

91

5.66

6.

10

6.04

6.

96

6.73

6.

41

7.21

7.

16

1.33

1.

46

7.31

S

wed

en

Sw

.Kr.

4.

70

5.41

5.

04

5.92

5.

85

6.27

6.

55

6.22

7.

50

I .4

6 7.

81

7.83

7.

65

For

ear

lier

se

e V

ol.

year

s 5

78 a

nd

161,

an

d pp

. V

ol.

7,

105.

p.

12

TABLE 6

Comparison of hourly labour costs, with U.S.A. = 1.0

ISIC a 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

Belgium

Denmark

France

German Fed. Rep.

Italy

Netherlands

U.K.

Australia

Canada

Japan

Norway

Sweden

351 371 382

5 35 l/2 38213

5 351 371 382

5 351 371 382

5 351 371 382

5 351

37 382

5 35112 371 382

5 35 l/2/3

3::,2,3 5

35112 37112 382

5 35112 371 382

5 35112 382

5 35

371 382

5

0.55 0.67 0.84 0.91 0.97 1.01 1.10 1.29 1.36 1.28 0.97 0.74 0.67 0.62 0.71 0.83 0.96 0.94 1.03 1.05 1.18 1.33 l.OOR 0.87R 0.66R 0.68 0.54 0.62 0.81 0.85 0.91 0.99 1.04 1.19 1.28 1.18 0.91 0.76 0.68 0.40 0.47 0.64 0.73 0.80 0.90 0.98 1.16 1.24 1.21 0.93 0.71 0.64 0.50 0.51 0.68 0.70 0.73 0.77 0.75 0.90 0.97 0.89 0.63 0.56 0.52 0.51 0.59 0.79 0.80 0.89 0.93 0.89 1.06 1.13 1.01 0.76 0.70 0.65 0.46 0.47 0.62 0.63 0.67 0.73 0.74 0.89 0.97 0.90 0.65 0.59 0.57 0.40 0.44 0.55 0.58 0.69 0.63 0.66 0.80 0.89 0.91 0.68 0.58 0.53 0.41 0.48 0.54 0.62 0.74 0.67 0.70 0.80 0.83 0.85R 0.63R 0.52R 0.54 0.43 0.47 0.59 0.59 0.68 0.68 0.71 0.81 0.89 0.89 0.73 0.63 0.57 0.26 0.32 0.40 0.41 0.46 0.47 0.50 0.59 0.74 0.69 0.55 0.46 0.43 0.67 0.67 0.95 0.91 0.90 0.95 1.01 1.15 1.23 1.12 0.81 0.74 0.67 0.63 0.68 0.86 0.85 0.83 0.88 0.89 1.00 1.07 0.94R 0.68R 0.58R 0.62 0.67 0.70 1.00 0.90 0.92 0.99 1.05 1.21 1.30 1.21 0.90 0.84 0.77 0.47 0.50 0.69 0.64 0.63 0.69 0.74 0.88 1.02 0.94 0.70 0.63 0.59 0.48 0.51 0.56 0.59 0.64 0.61 0.64 0.81 0.94 0.96 0.68 0.66 0.62 0.53 0.56 0.55 0.61 0.69 0.63 0.64 0.71 0.80 0.78R 0.57R 0.53R 0.58 0.47 0.51 0.58 0.60 0.67 0.65 0.69 0.78 0.90 0.92 0.71 0.71 0.68

0.29 0.31 0.35 0.40 0.44 0.43 0.46 0.57 0.72 0.67 0.53 0.53 0.50

0.55 0.61 0.85 0.85 0.89 0.89 0.95 1.08 1.14 1.06 0.69 0.69 0.61

0.64 0.69 0.86 0.95 0.95 0.99 1.01 1.13 1.26 1.04R 0.67R 0.64R 0.65 0.61 0.64 0.88 0.89 0.94 0.99 1.05 1.18 1.33 1.22 0.77 0.80 0.71 0.46 0.51 0.70 0.72 0.77 0.81 0.91 1.07 1.20 1.11 0.86 0.76 0.68 0.42 0.43 0.45 0.50 0.50 0.41 0.42 0.51 0.64 0.75 0.58 0.53 0.48 0.40 0.43 0.36 0.40 0.46 0.40 0.41 0.49 0.56 0.62R 0.47R 0.43R 0.43 0.41 0.44 0.47 0.48 0.49 0.43 0.46 0.54 0.65 0.75 0.58 0.57 0.50 0.27 0.30 0.31 0.34 0.36 0.31 0.33 0.38 0.45 0.57 0.45 0.41 0.37 0.53 0.57 0.77 0.84 0.81 0.82 0.74 0.78 0.81 0.85 0.81 0.71 0.69 0.55 0.58 0.71 0.82 0.78 0.81 0.73 0.73 0.70 0.70R 0.67R 0.61R 0.66 0.58 0.59 0.79 0.84 0.81 0.86 0.77 0.78 0.77 0.82 0.79 0.81 0.77 0.44 0.43 0.59 0.66 0.66 0.7i 0.65 0.69 0.67 0.72 0.72 0.68 0.68 0.74 0.76 0.73 0.80 0.77 0.83 0.75 0.69 0.72 0.73 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.88 0.92 0.82 0.91 0.91 0.99 0.90 0.81 0.84 0.77R 0.77R 0.77R 0.87 0.86 0.71 0.89 0.92 0.95 1.04 0.94 0.84 0.89 0.86 0.88 0.91 0.88 0.75 0.80 0.80 0.91 0.96 1.08 1.03 0.91 1.04 0.97 0.99 0.99 0.85 0.31 0.47 0.51 0.60 0.58 0.57 0.62 0.80 0.82 0.79 0.72 0.59 0.66 0.35 0.50 0.49 0.60 0.62 0.61 0.65 0.79 0.76 0.69R 0.65R 0.50R 0.63 0.30 0.37 0.50 0.56 0.56 0.57 0.63 0.78 0.79 0.74 0.72 0.60 0.66 0.18 0.23 0,.28 0.33 0.34 0.37 0.42 0.56 0.58 0.54 0.53 0.42 0.48 0.49 0.55 0.66 0.75 0.75 0.86 0.86 0.93 0.89 0.93 0.71 0.64 0.59 0.61 0.64 0.81 0.87 0.95 1.12 1.09 1.17 1.17 1.20 0.96 0.87 0.82 0.48 0.52 0.64 0.71 0.76 0.89 0.90 1.00 1.10 1.02 0.83 0.75 0.69 0.58 0.66 0.77 0.78 0.88 0.95 0.86 0.95 1.03 1.05 0.74 0.65 0.54 0.72 0.79 0.83 0.90 0.98 1.05 0.88 0.96 1.01 l.OOR 0.69R 0.59R 0.55 0.73 0.78 0.94 0.91 1.02 1.13 1.02 1.12 1.21 1.21 0.88 0.84 0.67 0.59 0.65 0.77 0.77 0.88 0.99 0.95 1.06 1.14 1.20 0.89 0.78 0.63

aInternational Standard Industrial Classifications: See footnote to Table 1

13

TABLE 7

Comparison of prices, with U.S.A. = 1.0, for:

I Ordinary Yortland cement

II Steel re-inforcing bar

III Steel sections (heavy)

IV Steel plate

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

Belgium 1

II

III

IV

Denmark I

II

IV

I:rance

Germany I II

III IV

Italy

Netherlands I II

IV

U.K. I

II

III IV

Australia

Canada

Japan

Norway

Sweden

0;62 0.70 0.79 0.77 0.78 0.77 0.84 0.88 0.91 0.92 0.77 0.77 0.72 0.95 0.92 1.49 I .35 1.11 1.02 1 .24 1.17 1.08 1.15 0.91 1.08 1.06 0.80 0.91 1.12 1.08 .0.87 0.88 0.96 0.90 1.02 0.93 0.73 0.72 0.59 0.90 0.95 ’ 14 1.53 1.10 0.87 0.94 0.86 0.94 0.90 0.66 0.66 0.63

0.70 u.78 0.91 1.02 1.07 0.92 0.91 0.95 0.93 1.05 0.90 0.77 0.82 1.45 1.22 1.26 1.18 1.32 1.16 1.05 1 .I5 0.93 I .03 1.05 1.12 1.38 1.03 0.84 0.85 0.88 0.87 0.82 0.62 0.65 0.64

0.71 0.76 0.86 0.83 0.86 0.84 0.77 0.83 0.93 1 .Ol 0.88 0.80 0.73 0.92 1.05 1.33 1.05 1.13 1.16 1.16 1.25 1.05 1.19 0.98 1.01 0.84 0.78 0.83 1.02 0.94 0.87 0.85 0.83 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.70 0.68 0.54 0.89 0.95 1.12 1.20 1.29 1.09 0.89 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.65 0.69 0.62

0.69 0.72 0.82 0.84 0.83 0.74 0.77 0.83 0.84 0.82 0.72 0.74 0.73 1.03 1.16 1.38 1.24 1.14 1.13 1.17 1.20 1.06 1.08 0.90 1.10 0.88 0.86 0.93 1.13 1.06 0.98 0.94 0.93 0.90 0.98 0.86 0.69 0.82 0.62 0.96 1 .Ol 1.23 1.23 1.06 0.94 0.91 0.87 0.93 0.87 0.73 0.73 0.63

0.53 0.55 0.52 0.55 0.61 0.51 0.53 0.56 0.64 0.68 0.61 0.59 0.57 1.03 1.12 1.40 1.32 0.98 0.95 1.09 1.12 1.08 1.03 0.78 0.76 0.75 0.81 0.83 1 .os 1.04 0.89 0.83 0.86 0.88 0.91 0.86 0.61 0.65 0.57 0.83 0.82 1.09 1.21 1.19 0.96 0.87 0.85 0.90 0.87 0.65 0.67 0.63

0.75 0.79 0.89 0.85 0.88 0.83 0.88 0.92 0.92 0.90 0.79 0.76 0.72 0.98 1.09 1.53 1.33 1.06 1.09 1.26 1.16 1.06 1.20 0.98 I.14 0.93

1.08 1.33 1.24 1.13 1.13 0.86 0.88 0.81 0.62 0.68 0.61

0.77 0.79 0.75 0.70 0.78 0.72 0.75 0.84 1 .oo 1.30 1.21 1.10 0.95 1.01 1.12 1.12 I .05 1.11 1.22 1.20 1.17 1.13 1.41 1.22 1.23 1.17 0.81 0.85 0.85 0.92 0.98 0.89 0.89 0.89 1.17 1.23 1.07 0.83 0.70

0.92 0.98 1.05 0.85 0.81 0.86 0.91 0.96 0.74 0.68 0.59

1 .Ol 1.07 1.26 1.25 1.14 1.13 1.05 1.08 1.02 1.06 1.14 1 !5 1.12 1.09 1.23 1.48 1.11 1.23 1.50 1.45 1.42 1.23 1.35 1.47 1.56 1.64 0.76 0.79 0.96 0.97 0.90 0.94 0.86 0.86 0.84 0.90 0.89 0.80 0.70 0.76 0.79 0.97 1 .oo 0.96 0.98 0.88 0.88 0.84 0.90 0.88 0.82 0.68

1.11 1.14 1.09 1.11 1.04 I .13 1.09 0.99 0.99 1.02 1.10 1.20 1.25 1.04 1.18 I.12 0.97 1.19 1.34 1.14 0.97 0.90 0.92 0.95 1.06 1.11 0.92 0.82 0.94 0.86 0.83 0.91 0.84 0.75 0.79 0.83 0.84 0.78 0.76 0.84 0.85 0.87 0.83 0.86 0.93 0.88 0.78 0.79 0.79 0.78 0.76 0.71

0.62 0.72 0.89 0.99 0.84 0.81 0.84 1.06 1.02 1.19 I.18 I .03 1.05 0.71 0.77 0.84 0.77 0.75 0.83 0.92 1.14 1.04 0.98 0.91 0.73 0.67

0.87 0.88 0.96 1.02 1 .07 1.11 1.07 1.05 1.09 1.15 1.07 ti.99 0.97 1.21 1.37 1.50 1.43 1.22 1.17 1.24 1.12 1.19 1.16 1.21 0.99 1.08 1.01 0.90 0.92 0.94 0.75 0.76 0.65

0.76 0.83 0.93 0.92 0.99 0.96 1 .oo 0.95 0.99 1.05 0.93 0.83 0.74 1.27 1.37 1.43 1.52 1.37 1.33 1.45 1.14 1.12 1 .oo 1.44 I .04 1.05 0.91 0.87 0.93 0.95 0.75 0.74 0.62

1.01 1.32 1.67 1.11 0.98 0.80 0.83 0.83 0.80 0.63 0.65 0.60

14

TABLE 8

Comparison of erected costs of plants with U.S.A. = 1.0

As at Jan. 1 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

Belgium 0.68 0.65 0.73 0.94 1.07 1.00 1.01 1.10 1.18 1.36 1.21 0.92 @.81 0.83 P

Denmark 0.73 0.71 0.76 0.97 1.06 1.01 0.98 0.98 1.10 1.13 1.05 0.80 0.76 0.74 France 0.61 0.61 0.68 0.83 0.85 0.93 0.89 0.87 0.96 1.02 1.04 0.82 0.75 0.68 W. Germany 0.71 0.77 0.81 1.08 1.02 0.98 0.99 1.02 1.12 I.20 1.13 0.88 0.85 0.76 Italy 0.63 0.63 0.66 0.78 0.86 0.88 0.81 0.82 0.91 1.01 1.01 0.78. 0.79 0.74 Netherlands 0.66 0.72 0.75 0.97 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.12 1.13 1.18 1.12 0.82 0.82 0.73 U.K. 0.62 0.66 0.69 0.72 0.77 0.81 0.70 0.72 0.80 0.94 1.08 0.86 0.79 0.68 Australia 0.62 0.66 0.67 0.87 0.92 0.89 0.94 0.85 0.87 0.84 0.90 0.89 0.86 0.80 p Canada 0.87 0.86 0.82 0.90 0.92 0.95 1.05 0.98 0.87 0.90 0.90 0.92 0.92 0.86 Japan 0.40 0.39 0.45 0.54 0.58 0.55 0.59 0.65 0.82 0.79 0.77 0.73 0.60 0.62 Norway 0.79 0.83 0.87 1.09 1.16 1.16 1.28 1.25 1.29 1.31 1.32 1.07 1.00 0.92 Sweden 0.87 0.90 0.95 1.17 1.24 1.18 1.24 1.13 1.19 1.26 1.29 0.99 0.90 0.76 U.S.A. < 1.0 3

REFERENCES

1 Eng. Costs Prod. Econ., 7 (1983) 186. 2 Eng. Costs Prod. Econ., 6 (1982) 272. 3 Eng. Costs Prod. Econ., 7 (1982) 18.