The Brief, every month undertakes a survey which started in June to assess a basket of similar hardware items that customers would probably purchase in a month. The survey is carried out across four hardware stores namely, Build It, BUCO, Pupkewitz Megabuild and Ark Trading.
The aim of the survey is to provide shoppers with guidance on which hardware wholesaler offers the cheapest basket of building materials for that particular month. Moreover, an analysis of changes in the basket is carried out in order to provide overall basket and item variations month on month.
The Following items are in the basket:
- Roofing Galvanized IBR
- Copper Tube 460 Class 0
- Aluminium Window (Bronze)
- Aluminum 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
In December 2023, Build It claimed the title of the most budget-friendly hardware store, offering a basket of construction materials at N$ 7099.23. Additionally, in January 2024, it retained its position as the cheapest option, albeit with a slight increase of 4.22% in the overall basket cost, now at N$ 7398.68.
The price hike was notable in specific items, such as the Roofing Galvanized IBR, which rose from N$ 654.05 to N$ 679.50. The Aluminium Window (Bronze) increased from N$ 786.99 to N$ 867.10, and the Aluminium Sliding Door (Bronze) saw a jump from N$ 2366.99 to N$ 2582.07.
On the other hand, Ark Trading exhibited a modest increase in their overall basket cost, reaching N$ 8018.88 in January 2024 from N$ 8008.12 in December 2023 representing a slight increase of 0.13%. The primary contributor to this rise was the Lockset lever, escalating from N$ 140.19 to N$ 152.54.
Both Pupkewitz and BUCO experienced month-on-month increases in their overall basket costs, rising by 3.20% and 4.07%, respectively.
Fluctuations in fuel prices have notably influenced transportation and construction-related activities. Nonetheless, the market appears optimistic following recent announcements of a decline in fuel prices. The government’s proposal of a single importation point, designed to mitigate escalating import costs of fuel, is anticipated to foster a comprehensive reduction in import item pricing. This initiative holds the potential to create a positive outlook for the industry.
*Note: The list of products we collect is limited and not intended to be an absolute measure of affordability. We aim for products to be broadly comparable.
In almost all cases it is possible to find any of these products at a cheaper price or to find cheaper alternatives, depending on location or time of month. Our sample is intended to simply reflect the total price of the cart in a single visit on a particular day.
Commodity Spotlight: Ceiling Board (1200X3000X6.4MM)
Every month, The Brief conducts a survey across four hardware stores in Windhoek, analyzing 17 standardized items. This time around we will look at the trend of a specific commodity chosen randomly. The focus for January 2024 is on the Ceiling Boards (1200X3000X6.4MM) item.
Build It unveiled an average of N$ 214.73 for the Ceiling Boards item, emerging as the most budget-friendly store across the 4 stores over the eight months period for the item. The price trajectory for the Ceiling Board item began at N$ 198.85 in June 2023, experienced an increase to N$ 258.90 in July 2023, and concluded at N$ 225.30 in January 2024.
In contrast, BUCO presented a comparatively higher pricing for Ceiling Boards, averaging at N$ 276.44. Prices peaked at N$ 308.99 in November and December 2023, rising from N$ 258.95 in October 2023, but eventually settled at N$ 235.64 in January 2024.
Pupkewitz Megabuild and Ark Trading maintained competitive positions, with average prices of N$ 222.10 and N$ 218.78, respectively, throughout the eight-month survey period.
