Smashing the cartels | Features

Material concerns: How prices vary across Europe
This table gives typical figures for contract rates compiled by DL&E鈥檚 offices in Europe; they may include discounts.
The figures show how difficult it would be to prove that differentials are anything other than the result of natural regional variations. Prices converted to sterling at 20 August 1999 exchange rates.
		UK	France	Germany	The Netherlands	Spain
		拢	拢	拢	拢	听拢
Cement (in bags)	tonne	85	90	61	81	56
Ready-mixed concrete (11.5 N/mm²)	m³	56	84	69	48	31
High-tensile steel reinforcement (12 mm)	tonne	260	575	260	495	255
Structural steel sections	tonne	430	515	340	800	335
Good-quality facing bricks	1000	275	240	270	180	140
Softwood for carpentry	m³	220	205	100	240	180
Plywood (exterior quality 18 mm)	m²	11.15	7.5	4.1	10.5	6
Sealed double-glazing units (18 mm)	m²	49	43	100	50	20
Good-quality ceramic wall tiles	m²	21.5	20.7	21.1	15.1	8.3
Plasterboard (12.5 mm)	m²	1.85	2.05	1.7	1.95	2.35
WC suite complete	each	195	185	270	105	75
Cast-iron drain pipe (150mm)	m	28.6	21.3	14	17.5	19.4
Source: Davis Langdon & Everest
E&FN Spon鈥檚 European Construction Costs Handbook 3rd edition, edited by Davis Langdon & Everest, will be published later in the year.

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