The Guardian

Homebuilding Costs And Wages Increase In Boston Area

New homebuilding activity In the Boston Metropolitan area during the first eleven months of 1955 was 8 percent above the same period of 1954, it was announced by Wendell D. Macdonald, Regional Director of the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Permits issued in the Boston area in the January-November period of 1955 totaled 10,778 compared to 9,997 for a similar period in 1954.

The increase was due entirely to private housing activity since public housing starts in 1955 in the Boston area amounted to only 82 units, compared to 112 in 1954.

Union wage scales of building trades workers in the Boston area advanced 10c an hour on the average from October 1, 1954 to October 3, 1955.

Bricklayers had the largest advance - from $3.085 an hour in October 1954 to $3.250 in October of 1955, an increase of 16½c.

Carpenters, electricians, painters and plasterers had increases of 10c an hour and building laborers' union wage scales rose by 8c an hour.

Wholesale prices of building materials advanced 5 percent during the January-November 1955 period. Lumber and wood products increased 4 percent, prepared paint was up 2 percent, and metals and metal products up 10 percent.

Plumbing equipment rose 12 percent and heating equipment 3 percent in price during the eleven months of 1955.

Reflecting increases in material prices and labor rates, seasonal indexes measuring construction costs rose by an average of 4 percent in the nation during the October 1954-1955 period.

Housing costs paid by consumers in the Boston area rose 2 percent in the October 1954-October 1955 period.

Gas and electricity was up 3 percent, rent increased 2 percent, solid fuel and fuel oil rose 1 percent and household operations costs rose 1 percent.