(Belga) The rise in the price of materials and the delivery times which have been lengthening for several months are weighing on the contacts made in the construction sector, worried the Construction Confederation on Saturday, as the exhibition opens in Brussels. Batibouw.
Half the time, the offers that construction companies receive from material suppliers are only valid for a few days (43% of cases), or even a few hours (7% of cases). “This is a sign that the pressure on prices is extremely strong,” notes the Confederation, which surveyed 325 companies in the sector. Price increases are passed on to customers for 65% of new contracts, either in full (40% of cases) or in part (25%). These costs and the increased delays make potential customers more hesitant: 6 out of 10 companies surveyed have seen their number of contacts decrease, while 13% of customers have simply canceled their project. This means that the boost represented by Batibouw, with its expected 150,000 visitors, is expected. For nine days, some 600 exhibitors will present their products and services in the halls of Brussels Expo. Faced with price increases, investing in housing remains advantageous, underlines Niko Demeester, CEO of the Construction Confederation, in a press release. “Mortgage rates remain low overall and the best form of retirement savings is to invest in your own home. Building or renovating also allows you to save on your energy bills. (Belga)
