The sale of building materials, which had grown in September and October because people had taken advantage of it stocks before the devaluation that was cominghe accentuated his fall in January, after also retiring in December.
The Construya Index (IC), which measures the evolution of volumes sold to the private sector of construction products manufactured by the main companies in the sector, saw a seasonally adjusted monthly decline of 19.6% and was 29.2% lower than January 2023. The falls have deepened since November.
“The year begins to accentuate the downward trend in shipments of materials, this is because we are in recovery months of holidays and the uncertainty generated by high inflation”, they explained from Construya.
The index measures the evolution of sales of ceramic bricks, cement, lime, long steel, aluminum carpentry, adhesives and pastes, waterproofing paints, sanitary ware, taps, flooring and electrical and electronic materials, among other products used in the sector .
Industry entrepreneurs were already predicting that the start of 2024 would be tough. In a nationwide survey conducted by Construya between November 24 and December 11 last year, 46% predicted a decrease in their business27% expect it to remain unchanged and 18% expect an increase.
THE exchange of uncertainties, with 30%, led the difficulties followed by less availability of financing and the higher construction costboth with 15%.
53% of participants indicated they had experience a decrease in the level of activity in the last twelve months, while 34% managed to maintain their activity.
Source: Clarin
