Book excerpt: Materials prices are still rising for most products, subcontract prices are volatile, tender prices falling... What’s happening in detail and where are things heading in this demanding market? Spon's Civil Engineering and Highway Works Price Book 2010 is more than just a price book. It provides a comprehensive work manual that many in the civil engineering, surveying and construction business will find it hard to work without. It gives costs for both general and civil engineering works and highway works, and shows a full breakdown of labour, plant and material elements, with labour rates updated in line with the latest CIJC wage agreement. This 24th edition, in its easy to read format, incorporates a comprehensive review throughout Assumptions on overheads and profits have been revised downwards Preliminaries have been cut, on a lower cost base Labour rates have been adjusted to reflect today’s economic climate Tunnelling rates are too volatile this year and have been removed from this edition Structured to comply with CESMM3 and MMHW, the book includes prices and rates covering everything from ladders to lighting systems and canal dredging to cycle stands. In a time when it is essential to gain 'competitive advantage' in an increasingly congested market, this price book provides instant-access cost information and is a one-stop reference containing tables, formulae, technical information and professional advice. Buyers of this 2010 edition can make a free internet download of Spon’s Civil Engineering and Highway Works price data, which will run to the end of 2010 and: produce estimate and tender documents generate priced or unpriced schedules adjust rates and data and enter rogue items export schedules into Excel carry out an index search This year, for the first time, the download includes a versatile and powerful ebook. Plus the standard features you have come to expect from Spon’s Civil Engineering and Highway Works Price Book: For budgeting: estimating principles, on-cost advice, method-related charges For resource costings: labour costs, plant costs, material prices For rapid cost information: approximate estimates, dayworks, cost indices For plant and labour allowances: production rates, outputs, man hour constants For detailed pricing: unit costs with full breakdown, or specialist prices, with advice on item coverage, waste allowances and comparative costs For incidental advice: tables and formulae, technical information, professional advice Updated, free of charge, every four months – see enclosed card to register. Updates are available online at www.pricebooks.co.uk