PPI: Many Glass and Glazing Materials Prices See Drop in September

Many of the prices for materials used in glass and glazing manufacturing fell in September 2019 after increasing last month according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In September, the monthly PPI for flat glass in the commodity category dropped 0.2% from the previous month, but jumped 1% from September 2018. According to the BLS, the commodity classification “organizes products and services by similarity or material composition, regardless of the industry classification of the producing establishment.”

The index for flat glass manufacturing in the industry classification fell 0.5% from August 2019. It’s up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. The industry classification measures “changes in prices received for the industry’s output sold outside the industry (that is, its net output).”

Prices for fabricated structural metal products also declined, falling back 1.2% in September. That index, in the commodity grouping, is at the same level that it was a year ago. The index for ornamental and architectural metal work manufacturing, in the industry category, decreased a slight 0.1% in September. It has experienced a 1.4% increase since September 2018.

The PPI for metal windows is unchanged this month from its August 2019 index. However, it has increased 5.2% compared to the September 2018 report. The price for metal doors and frames is up 0.2% in September. The category is up 1.2% for the year.

The cost of builders’ hardware, including that used in glass and glazing, showed a 0.1% increase this month and a 1.6% increase compared to the September 2018 report.

Monthly and Yearly Change in Glass and Glazing Material Prices