Prices of plumbing materials increased more than any other construction item in Ghana in May 2026, while cement prices continued to fall, according to the latest Prime Building Cost Index (PBCI) published by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The report showed that plumbing costs rose by 22.8% compared to the same period last year, making plumbing the fastest-growing construction sub-group during the month.
“Plumbing recorded the highest year-on-year inflation rate of 22.8 percent,” the GSS stated.
At the same time, cement prices dropped sharply.
The cement sub-group recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of -14.5%, the lowest among all the construction categories monitored by the Statistical Service.
These developments reflect different price trends across Ghana’s construction industry.
Despite the overall PBCI inflation rate remaining relatively low at 2.7% in May 2026, several building materials experienced notable price increases.
The GSS reported that 14 out of the 23 construction sub-groups recorded inflation rates above the national average.
This suggests that although overall construction inflation remains moderate, many essential building inputs continue to face rising costs.
Lower cement prices could bring some relief to developers and contractors who rely heavily on the material for construction projects.
However, the increase in plumbing costs and other building expenses may reduce some of the benefits of cheaper cement.
The report also revealed that the Plant group recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 9.8%, while the Material group posted inflation of 3.5%.
In contrast, labour costs fell by 2.0% compared with May 2025.
