BERLIN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Germany recorded the strongest price increase for specific building materials, such as timber and steel, in 2021 since the data series were started in 1949, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on Thursday.
Prices were up 77.3 percent for solid construction timber, 65.1 percent for roof battens and 61.4 percent for construction timber, compared with average prices in 2020, according to Destatis.
"Delivery bottlenecks, raw material shortage and higher domestic and foreign demand have had an impact on the construction sector," Destatis noted, adding that "not only the increased wood prices, but also the steel prices are driving up costs in the construction industry."
"Rising material prices as well as government requirements and more climate protection cost money," said Tim-Oliver Mueller, managing director of the German construction industry federation on Thursday. "It is important that the rising prices are not fully transferred to tenants."
The industry expects a slight easing of the situation in the middle of the year. "Nevertheless, price developments are very volatile. Clients and contractors should therefore continue to take price fluctuations into account in their budgets and calculations," added Mueller. ■