UK Trade Service Cost Index 2026
CPIH-adjusted estimates for 11 home trades across 41 UK areas · ONS CPIH 04.3 maintenance sub-index (L537)
How much have UK trade maintenance costs risen since 2015?
The ONS CPIH 04.3 "Regular Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling" sub-index (series L537) stood at 122.026 in January–May 2026 (2015 = 100), meaning UK trade-maintenance costs have risen 22% since the government's base year, faster than some expect. The Gera Trade Cost Index applies this official figure plus ONS regional price levels to estimate adjusted costs across 11 trades and 41 UK areas.
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) — Consumer Price Inflation (series L537) · published 17 June 2026 · fetched 2026-06-20 · OGL v3.0. Updated monthly (re-fetched when ONS publishes new figures).
ONS CPIH 04.3 (maintenance) vs headline CPIH — annual averages
Series L537 vs L522. Source: ONS Consumer Price Inflation (OGL v3.0), published 17 June 2026. 2015 = 100.
| Year | CPIH 04.3 (maintenance) | CPIH All Items |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 101.9 | 107.8 |
| 2020 | 103.3 | 108.9 |
| 2021 | 107.3 | 111.6 |
| 2022 | 116.0 | 120.5 |
| 2023 | 120.2 | 128.6 |
| 2024 | 120.8 | 132.9 |
| 2025 | 121.0 | 138.0 |
| 2026 * | 122.0 | 140.8 |
* 2026: Jan–May average (5 months). Source: ONS CDID L537 and L522, Consumer Price Inflation dataset. Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0.
Browse by trade
Plumber
£40–£80 per hour
London CPIH-adjusted: £43–£86
Electrician
£40–£90 per hour
London CPIH-adjusted: £43–£97
Cleaner
£15–£20 per hour
London CPIH-adjusted: £16–£21
Handyman
£30–£60 per hour
London CPIH-adjusted: £32–£64
Boiler Engineer
£50–£100 per hour
London CPIH-adjusted: £54–£108
Gardener
£25–£50 per hour
London CPIH-adjusted: £27–£54
Painter & Decorator
£150–£250 per day
London CPIH-adjusted: £162–£270
Carpenter
£150–£300 per day
London CPIH-adjusted: £162–£324
Locksmith
£60–£120 per hour
London CPIH-adjusted: £65–£130
Pest Controller
£80–£200 per treatment
London CPIH-adjusted: £86–£215
Drainage Specialist
£70–£150 per job
London CPIH-adjusted: £76–£163
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Frequently asked questions
How much have UK home maintenance trade costs risen since 2015?
The ONS CPIH 04.3 "Regular Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling" sub-index (series L537) stood at 122.026 in January–May 2026 (2015 = 100), meaning UK trade-maintenance costs have risen 22% since the government's base year, faster than some expect. The Gera Trade Cost Index applies this official figure plus ONS regional price levels to estimate adjusted costs across 11 trades and 41 UK areas.
What is the Gera Trade Cost Index (GTCI)?
The Gera Trade Cost Index (GTCI) adjusts published 2025 UK national typical-rate ranges for trades using two real, key-free ONS data sources: (1) the ONS CPIH 04.3 "Regular Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling" sub-index (series L537, 2015 = 100, published in the Consumer Price Inflation dataset, OGL v3.0) — the official UK government inflation tracker for the trade-maintenance category; and (2) the ONS Relative Regional Consumer Price Levels (RRCPL) 2016 all-items index — the only official UK statistic that directly measures price-level differences between regions. Formula: adjusted_low = base_2015_low_cost × (CPIH_04_3 / 100) × (regional_RRCPL / 100); adjusted_high = adjusted_low × (national_high / national_low). base_2015_low_cost is the 2025 national lower bound deflated back to the 2015 index baseline (= national_low_2025 / 1.2104). The GTCI score (0–100) measures how a location's adjusted midpoint compares to the UK-average CPIH-adjusted midpoint (RRCPL = 100): a score of 100 means exactly at the national CPIH-adjusted average; scores below 85 indicate above-average cost for that trade in that area. No figure is a measured transaction price — all are estimates derived from the published indices and must be validated by obtaining an itemised quote.
Which ONS series tracks maintenance and repair inflation?
The ONS CPIH 04.3 series (CDID L537), titled "Regular Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling", tracks inflation in the trade-maintenance category with a base of 100 in 2015. It is published monthly in the Consumer Price Inflation dataset (MM23) under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Are these measured tradesperson prices or estimates?
These are CPIH-adjusted planning estimates, not measured transaction prices. They apply the ONS CPIH 04.3 maintenance sub-index and ONS regional price levels to published national typical-rate ranges. Always obtain an itemised quote before committing to any work.
How the GTCI is calculated
The Gera Trade Cost Index (GTCI) adjusts published 2025 UK national typical-rate ranges for trades using two real, key-free ONS data sources: (1) the ONS CPIH 04.3 "Regular Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling" sub-index (series L537, 2015 = 100, published in the Consumer Price Inflation dataset, OGL v3.0) — the official UK government inflation tracker for the trade-maintenance category; and (2) the ONS Relative Regional Consumer Price Levels (RRCPL) 2016 all-items index — the only official UK statistic that directly measures price-level differences between regions. Formula: adjusted_low = base_2015_low_cost × (CPIH_04_3 / 100) × (regional_RRCPL / 100); adjusted_high = adjusted_low × (national_high / national_low). base_2015_low_cost is the 2025 national lower bound deflated back to the 2015 index baseline (= national_low_2025 / 1.2104). The GTCI score (0–100) measures how a location's adjusted midpoint compares to the UK-average CPIH-adjusted midpoint (RRCPL = 100): a score of 100 means exactly at the national CPIH-adjusted average; scores below 85 indicate above-average cost for that trade in that area. No figure is a measured transaction price — all are estimates derived from the published indices and must be validated by obtaining an itemised quote.
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Consumer Price Inflation (MM23), Office for National Statistics (ONS), published 17 June 2026, fetched 2026-06-20. ONS RRCPL 2016 regional price levels. Adjusted costs are planning estimates only; obtain an itemised quote before committing to any work.