PPI: 2016 Kicks off With Flat Glass Price Increase
March 4th, 2016 | Category: Industry NewsFlat glass prices jumped more than a full percentage point in January, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report issued by the U.S. Labor Department. According to the report, prices increased 1.1 percent and are up 2 percent over the last two months.
The flat glass PPI is up 5.9 percent from January 2015.
TheĀ PPIĀ program measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The prices included in the PPI are from the first commercial transaction for many products and some services.
The flat glass index sits at 130.3.
In another report, import prices for glass and glassware edged down 0.3 percent after a 0.8-percent decrease in December. Prices in that category are down 0.2 percent from January 2015, with an index of 128.5.
Export prices for glass and glassware meanwhile, saw a slight 0.1-percent increase for the fourth straight month. Those prices, however, are flat from this time last year and have an index of 99.4.
Prices of construction materials rebounded from a 0.3-percent dip in December by jumping 0.4 percent in January. Prices in that category are down 0.8 percent from January 2015. Final demand for construction was down 0.4 percent in the most recent month after being stagnant in December. Those prices are up 1.2 percent over the year.
On the whole, the PPI for final demand advanced 0.1 percent in January, seasonally adjusted, following a 0.2-percent drop in December. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand fell 0.2 percent for the 12 months ended in January.
Overall prices for U.S. imports fell 1.1 percent in January for the second month in a row. Export prices decreased 0.8 percent last month after declining 1.1-percent dip in December.