The Combined Prime Building Cost Index (PBCI) measures how the overall cost of constructing buildings changes over time. It tracks the prices of key construction inputs such as building materials, labour, and equipment over time, indexed to the 2023 base year, which is set at 100. In simple terms, the PBCI shows whether it is becoming more expensive or cheaper to build compared to a previous period.
PBCI is used by key stakeholders including investors, developers, contractors, and policy makers to negotiate contracts, adjust bids, budget effectively, and monitor inflation trends in the building sector. The year-on-year inflation rate as measured by the PBCI was 9.7 percent in September 2025 (Figure 1). This rate of inflation for September 2025 is the percentage change in the Prime building Cost Index (PBCI) over the twelve-month period, from September 2024 to September 2025.
PBCI Presentation
PBCI Infographics
PBCI Annexes
PBCI Bulletin
