PPI: Flat Glass Prices Up Nearly 7 Percent Over Year

Flat glass prices increased 0.6 percent in April following a 0.2-percent dip the month before, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices for the material are up 6.9 percent from April 2015.

According to the Bureau, the PPI program measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output. The prices included in the PPI are from the first commercial transaction for many products and some services.

April’s flat glass index represented its second increase in 2016. January saw a 1.1-percent spike, while prices remained flat in February. The current index sits at 130.9.

Final demand for construction was up 0.8 percent in April, and its index is 1.9 percent higher than a year ago.

Construction materials prices remain steady, ticking up just 0.2 percent after dipping that same amount in February and staying flat in March. Those prices are up just 0.5 percent from April 2015.

Prices for construction machinery and equipment were unchanged in April but have increased 1 percent from a year ago.

In another report, import prices for glass and glassware increased 0.2 percent and are up 0.3 percent from last year. Export prices in that category remained flat for the third straight month and have increased just 0.1 percent since April 2015.

Overall, the PPI for final demand in the U.S. rose 0.2 percent in April. Final demand prices declined 0.1 percent in March and 0.2 percent in February. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index was unchanged for the 12 months ended in April.

The price index for U.S. imports rose 0.3 percent in April following a 0.3-percent increase in March. U.S. export prices increased 0.5 percent in April, after recording no change the previous month.