Manila, Aug. 12 -- The wholesale prices of construction materials in the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded a faster increase in July, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Data released by the PSA on Wednesday showed that the construction materials wholesale price index (CMWPI) in the NCR rose by 3.5 percent in July from 2.9 percent in the previous month.

The PSA attributed the uptrend to concrete products, which experienced an accelerated price increase of 5.2 percent in July, compared to 4.1 percent in June.

Higher annual growth rates were also recorded in the indices of sand and gravel, cement, tileworks, doors, jambs, and steel casement, painting works, and polyvinyl chloride pipes.

Slower annual increases,...