Wood is one of the imported products with the highest cost increase.>SuppliedHome repairs, according to hardware stores, now cost consumers more.>SuppliedWood is one of the imported products with the highest cost increase.>SuppliedThe consumer who visits the hardware stores to buy construction materials or items to make home improvements, continues to experience the constant increase in prices, for which he has begun to adjust the works he had planned.The situation —which according to the Puerto Rico Builders Association and hardware store owners is not expected to change in the short term— is mainly due to the higher cost of transporting wagons with imported merchandise, added to the shortage of products worldwide and the taxes decreed by the government of President Donald Trump on purchases of supplies outside the United States.The interviewees indicated that this situation causes discomfort to many clients who arrive and notice that the prices of materials continue to rise.They said that the suppliers of these products have no choice but to pass on the rise in costs, which end up in the pockets of consumers.“Customers complain about prices all the time;many do not understand what is happening.Every time we buy some materials, their prices go up a little more,” said Juan Maldonado, owner of Ferretería Vanessa, in Guaynabo.Most items in hardware stores—such as tools, wood paneling, rebar, paint, light bulbs, padlocks, rope, screws, locks, cement, tiles, etc.—are now more expensive than they were prior to the pandemic."PVC costs more and wood is something that continues to rise more than 7%," Maldonado said, and offered other examples, such as the 7% rise in security items - such as padlocks and locks -, 15% in some paintings , and added that "sand and stone is now worth $2.00 more per meter."Home repairs, according to hardware stores, now cost consumers more.>SuppliedIn the Ace Hardware Store, in Caguas, there are also increases that affect both the contractor and the citizen who is going to buy an item to repair or make improvements to the house or business, as well as those who carry out tasks such as painting and remodel housing units.“Everything has increased, everything.Cement about 10%, wood and PVC pipes.Freight from China that was $5,000 is now $19,000 and $20,000.It is not expected that there will be a short-term change in prices and this affects the contractor, but more so the common people;Same thing with the supermarket.The contractor passes the cost to him when selling the house, but the common citizen and the one who makes 'chivitos' cannot, "said the manager Juan Rivera.The problem with materials from China, according to Vanessa De Mari, president of the Puerto Rico Builders Association, is the additional tax imposed by the administration of former US President Donald Trump.“There is aluminum that comes from China and is more expensive because of this tax, but also the containers that used to cost $3,000 now reach $12,000.They have quadrupled!” she reported.The increase, according to De Mari, has been exponential in most materials, which also impacts the housing construction sector.“There is a great demand for the materials and their prices increase.In Puerto Rico, everything arrives by ship and covid-19 has also greatly impacted maritime transportation, deliveries take longer.Cement has risen 20%, steel rods 50%, aluminum 32%, PVC 27% and wood 53%.This impacts the development of affordable housing,” she stated.It was noted that federal incentives for the first time buyer of a primary residence help, since lowering the cost of building at this time is not possible.“You try to adjust, but the suppliers tell you 'take it or leave it'.Many materials are brought here from the United States, wood and aluminum from South America and slabs from Italy and Spain”, she added about the impossibility of building units at low cost.De Mari understands that as the pandemic emergency normalizes, the prices of materials and transportation must fall.She receives more information about this and other news.Click here if you are an Android or iPhone user.Last year's sales had recovered until mid-December, but then she changed the landscape with the rebound of covid-192021 closed with 18.20% less variety of products in stores.Whenever this search gets new results, you'll get an email delivered to your inbox with a link.Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.Please disable your ad blocker, and refresh the page to view this content.