Material prices are up 7.2% in a year. Your quotes may be out of date

The government's All Work material price index rose 7.2% in September 2026 compared with a year earlier. It rose 0.6% in a single month. In August the annual rate was 6.4%.¹

What this means for your quotes

If materials are half your job cost, a 7.2% rise takes about 3.6% off your margin. On a thin job, that can be most of the profit. Try our quote inflation check to see the effect on your own numbers.

• Keep quote validity short, such as 30 days.
• Add a price variation clause on long jobs.
• Get supplier prices in writing with an expiry date.
• Buy key items early if you have safe storage.

The insurance angle

Rising prices push up the cost of repairs. Your sum insured for contract works, tools and stock may now be too low. Underinsurance can reduce what you are paid on a claim, so review those figures at renewal.