The end of stagnation on the construction market. Prices up

After many months of relative calm on the construction materials market, a clear rebound in prices is visible. In April, the average price level was 2.1%. higher than the year before. This is the best result in almost three years and – according to experts – a possible signal of a change in the trend.

– This time, thermal insulation took the leading position with a double-digit increase in rates on a year-to-year basis, overtaking OSB boards and wood, which are still significantly more expensive. Thus, there are many indications that the period of price stagnation that has been going on for almost two years has come to an end, and the building materials market has again entered a phase of moderate growth – says Jarosław Jędrzyński, an expert at the RynekPierwotny.pl portal.

According to data from the PSB Group, prices in retail sales increased by 0.3 percent, and in wholesale by as much as 4.2 percent. This is the highest dynamics in many months and – as analysts point out – a potentially early signal of further increases.

The wholesale is accelerating

Particular attention is drawn to the growing difference between the wholesale and retail markets. In practice, wholesale is often the first to respond to changes in demand and costs, which is why its dynamics is an indicator of future trends.

In April, the difference was clear: while retail remained stable, wholesale exceeded 4%. growth. This may mean both increasing investment activity and a gradual transfer of higher producer costs to the market.

– In this way, the stabilization of the slightly negative horizontal trend, firmly established over time, has most likely been finally completed – forecasts Jarosław Jędrzyński.

Which materials are most expensive?

The increase in average dynamics results from the advantage of commodity groups that recorded price increases year on year. In April 2026, there were twelve of them, while seven categories decreased and one remained unchanged.

Price dynamics of construction materials (April 2026 / April 2025):

1. Thermal insulation – 13.5%.

2. OSB boards, wood – 11.1%.

3. Waterproofing – 3.2%.

4. Paints, varnishes – 3.1 percent

5. Dry construction – 3.1%.

6. Tiles, bathrooms, kitchens – 2.2 percent.

7. Walls, chimneys – 1.7%.

8. Roofs, gutters – 1.6%.

9. Installations, heating – 1.1%.

10. Construction chemicals – 0.9 percent

11. Cement, lime – 0.9%.

12. Decorations – 0.2 percent

13. Joinery – 0.0 percent

14. Tools – -0.4 percent

15. Garden, hobby – -0.7 percent

16. Equipment, household appliances – -0.9 percent

17. Lighting, electrical – -1.4%.

18. Automotive – -1.7 percent

19. Finishes – -2.8 percent

20. House surroundings – -4.1%.

The average price increase for the entire market was 2.1%.

Insulation under the pressure of energy costs

According to experts from the RynekPierwotny.pl website, the return to strong increases in thermal insulation prices deserves special attention. This group of materials is one of the most sensitive to changes in the prices of petrochemical raw materials, energy and transport.

An increase of 13.5%. year to year can therefore hardly be considered accidental. In practice, it may constitute the first clearer signal of the transfer of the effects of the increase in oil and gas prices observed after the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East to the construction materials market.

What’s next with prices?

The demand side is also increasingly influencing the market. In April, developers started construction of over 15,000. apartments and houses, which was the best result for this month in the history of the Central Statistical Office data.

– At the same time, more and more evidence indicates that there are also changes on the demand side that favor price increases. April turned out to be an exceptionally good investment period for the primary housing market. This month, developers started construction of over 15,000. apartments and houses, which means that it was the best April in the history of the Central Statistical Office data – notes an expert from the RynekPierwotny.pl portal.

The increase in the activity of individual investors and the improvement in apartment sales may gradually increase the price pressure.

– This does not yet mean a return to the double-digit increases observed in 2021–2022. Current macroeconomic conditions remain much more stable and competition between producers is strong. However, after nearly two years of stagnation and slight price declines, there is more and more evidence that the building materials market has entered a new phase of the business cycle, in which moderate but systematic price increases may again become the dominant direction of change, concludes Jędrzyński.