In October, Pupkewitz Megabuild recorded a significant year-on-year basket decrease, standing out among the four major Windhoek hardware stores in The Brief survey.
In October 2024, Pupkewitz recorded a 15.25% decrease in its basket value compared to the same month in 2023, despite a slight month-on-month increase of 0.15%.
Key product reductions driving the year-on-year decrease include the Ceiling Board, which dropped from N$ 213.99 in October 2023 to N$ 208.99 in 2024, the Lockset Lever comparable, reduced from N$ 449.99 in 2023 to N$ 79.95 in 2024, and Paint, which saw a steep price cut from N$ 1894.99 to N$ 1099.00 during the same period.
BuiltIt also recorded a year-on-year decline of 1.55%, contrasted with a month-on-month increase of 0.84%.
Contributing to the annual decrease were the Copper Tube, which dropped from N$ 759.79 in 2023 to N$ 618.29 in 2024, and the Steel Door Frame, which decreased slightly from N$ 588.27 in October 2023 to N$ 570.57 in 2024.
In contrast, Ark Trading and BUCO both exhibited year-on-year basket increases.
Ark Trading’s basket value rose by 3.96%, alongside a month-on-month increase of 7.85%.
The upward trend was driven by price increases in key products, including the Aluminium Window (Bronze), which rose from N$ 1001.24 in 2023 to N$ 1092.62 in 2024, the Interior Hardboard Door, which increased from N$ 466.08 to N$ 521.13, and the Aluminium Sliding Door (Bronze), up from N$ 2890.26 in 2023 to N$ 3005.25 in 2024.
BUCO followed a similar trend with a 2.02% year-on-year rise and a month-on-month increase of 1.97%.
Items contributing to the increase include the Aluminium Window (Bronze), up from N$ 1005.71 in 2023 to N$ 1099.00 in 2024, the Aluminium Sliding Door (Bronze), which rose from N$ 2736.71 to N$ 2849.00, and Brick Cement, which increased from N$ 2.86 to N$ 3.22 over the same period.
These trends reveal a mixed performance among the surveyed shops. Pupkewitz and BuiltIt leaned heavily on competitive pricing strategies, resulting in annual declines, with sharp price cuts on construction materials.
In contrast, Ark Trading and BUCO increased prices across key items, possibly to manage rising input costs or boost margins, suggesting different approaches to navigating the current market environment.
For October 2024, the Commodity Spotlight focuses on the Copper Tube Class O, analyzing its average price over the 16-month survey period. Pupkewitz emerged as the most affordable option, with an average price of N$575.57.
Ark Trading followed with an average of N$629.33, while BuildIt recorded an average of N$ 660.22. BUCO had the highest average price, at N$667.49.
This survey draws data from four hardware stores: BuildIt, BUCO, Pupkewitz Megabuild, and Ark Trading. Conducted monthly by The Brief, it began in June 2023 to evaluate a basket of comparable hardware items that customers are likely to purchase each month.
The survey’s primary goal is to help shoppers identify which hardware wholesaler offers the most affordable basket of building materials for a given month. Additionally, the survey tracks changes in the basket to analyze both overall basket trends and individual item variations on a month-by-month and now on a year-on-year basis.
The following items are in the basket:
- Roofing Galvanized IBR
- Copper Tube 460 Class 0
- Aluminium Window (Bronze)
- Aluminium Sliding Door (Bronze)
- Brick 7 MPA
- Brickforce 150 MM 15M ROLL
- Brickforce 75MM 15M ROLL
- Lintel concrete 1200X110X75MM
- Lintel concrete 1800X110X75MM
- Lintel concrete 900X110X75MM
- Ceiling Board 1200X3000X6.4MM
- Door Frame Steel 813X2032X115X1MM
- Lockset 2 lever
- Door Hardboard Interior 813 X 2032 MM
- 32.5 Cement Ohorongo
- 42.5 Cement Ohorongo
- Paint 20 liters
