Materialkostnadsindex

Materialkostnadsindex (MKI) is an index that measures changes in the costs of materials used in production or construction over time. It is designed to reflect how the prices of inputs such as steel, concrete, wood, plastics, copper, chemicals, and other bulk materials move, independently of wages or energy costs. The MKI is typically used in contracts, budgeting, and economic analysis to account for fluctuations in material prices.

Construction and procurement are common areas of application. In long-term projects and public procurement, price adjustment clauses may refer to an MKI to compensate for material cost changes between contract periods. Organizations may also use the index for forecasting project costs, comparing supplier offers, or assessing inflationary pressures in the materials sector.

Construction of the index usually involves a fixed basket of materials weighted according to their share of total material costs in a representative industry or project. The index is commonly calculated as a Laspeyres-type measure, comparing the cost of the basket in the current period to that in a base period. Data sources can include supplier price data, import/export prices, and price surveys. In some cases, regional differences and quality changes are adjusted or noted as limitations.

Limitations and caveats include sensitivity to substitutions between materials, quality changes, and regional price variations. The MKI is distinct from consumer price indices (CPI) and producer price indices (PPI), as it focuses specifically on material inputs rather than finished goods or all production costs.