Comparability

Comparability - geographical

The Norwegian statistical agency (Statistics Norway) has since 1985 produced cost indices for road construction. The indices are based on input prices and measure the development of the factor prices in road construction. The price changes of material, labor, equipment and transportation are weighted together to form total indices. I.e. the Norwegian indices are calculated using the same method as for the Danish indices. Thus, the total indices calculated in the two countries are comparable.

Comparability over time

The first cost index for road fund work was compiled for March 1959 and the index for motorway work was compiled for the first time for March 1967 with March 1965 equal to 100.

In March 1971 when Statistics Denmark began to publish the road indices, the weighting of the indices was adjusted. Simultaneously, the year 1968 = 100.

The calculation of labor costs in the road indices was originally based on actual labor costs. In 1976 Statistics Denmark began to calculate construction cost indices using the collective wage rate agreements. The same year the weight basis for main indices Earth work, Asphalt work, Concrete structures, and Iron structures was established and published.

The cost index for roads was published for the first time in June 1996. The aim of the new index was to simplify the index-calculation, as the new index is in future to replace the two indices for motorways and highways. Part of this process of simplification is that the construction cost indices for earthwork, asphalt work and concrete structures are used directly in compiling the new index.

From 1 January 2001, the indices were renamed from Construction cost indices for road to Construction cost indices for civil engineering projects.

As of the 1st quarter of 2016 the base year has been changed to 2015 = 100.

Coherence - cross domain

Prices of materials and equipment are collected from the Price Index for Domestic Supply (PRIS1115), which gathers prices from producers and importers on a monthly basis. Price Index for Domestic Supply describes the development of product prices in business-to-business transactions for products produced in Denmark for the domestic market and exports, as well as for products imported to Denmark. For more information see the documentation of statistics for Producer and Import Price Index for Commodities.

Prices of transportation are collected quarterly from the Producer price index for services (PRIS1515), from which prices of Freight transport by road and removal services are used. For more information please refer to the documentation of statistics for the Producer price index for services.

Coherence - internal

Not relevant for these statistics.