Annual UK construction materials inflation increased to 6.4% in August, up from 5.9% in July, according to new government figures.
The September building materials and components release, published on 7 October, showed the “all work” materials price index rose 0.4% month on month.
Materials for other new work recorded annual inflation of 7.4%, compared with 5.9% for repair and maintenance and 5.6% for new housing.
Fabricated structural steel prices were 21.2% higher than a year earlier. Concrete reinforcing bars rose 12.5%, while cement prices fell 0.8%.
Separate seasonally adjusted figures for Great Britain showed brick deliveries were 10.1% lower than in August 2025, despite rising 12.6% from July.
Concrete block deliveries increased 5.9% month on month but remained 6.5% below their year-earlier level.
The monthly improvements left both delivery measures short of August 2025 levels.
The figures follow September’s UK Construction PMI, which showed a slower decline in activity but a sharper fall in new work. The index rose to 46.1 from 44.3 in August, remaining below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction.
For scaffolding businesses, the materials release provides wider context on the construction market. It does not measure scaffold equipment prices, hire rates or scaffolding order books.
