Tag Archive for ‘Building Materials’

Producer Prices Surprise in July

Contrary to economists’ expectations of a small gain, inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) fell 0.4% in July, nearly erasing June’s 0.5% increase. According to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the decline was a result of nearly identical drops in prices of services and goods of 0.3%… Read More ›

Producer Price Index Posts Broad-Based Gains

Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) increased 0.5% in June according to the latest Producer Price Index release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The increase was driven by a 0.4% increase in the price of services, while the final demand index for goods rose 0.8% (the price of services is weighted roughly double the… Read More ›

Vinyl is the Most Widely Used Exterior On New Homes

According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), vinyl (including vinyl-covered aluminum) was the most common principal siding material on new single-family homes started in 2015 (27 percent), followed by stucco (25 percent), brick or brick veneer (22 percent each), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (19 percent). Wood or wood products accounted for… Read More ›

Prices of Building Materials Increases in April, Like Most Goods

Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) rose 0.2% in April according to the latest Producer Price Index release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The gains were broad-based as the prices for goods and services which posted increases of 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. Prices for goods advanced 0.2% as declines in prices for trade, transportation,… Read More ›

Producer Prices in March – Energy Up, Services Down

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for March. Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) declined 0.1% in March based on declining prices in the service sector. In contrast, prices for goods rose 0.2% driven largely by a 1.8% increase in energy goods. The price index for goods less food… Read More ›

Producer Prices in January – Energy Down (again), Services Flat

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for February. Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) fell 0.2% in February based on declining energy prices. Prices for services were unchanged while prices for goods declined 0.6%. Excluding food and energy, prices for goods rose 0.1%. Softwood lumber prices trended down modestly… Read More ›

Producer Prices in January – Services Up, Energy Down

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for January. Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) increased 0.1% in January based on increased prices for services. Prices received by producers for goods declined 0.7% based on another large decline in energy prices. Excluding food and energy, prices for goods rose 0.2%. Softwood… Read More ›

Producer Prices in December – Energy Pushes Prices Lower

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for December. Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) declined 0.2% in December based on declining energy prices. Prices for goods declined 0.7%, but excluding food and energy, rose 0.1%. Prices for services rose 0.1%. Softwood lumber prices moved lower in December. Prices have… Read More ›

Producer Prices in November – Energy Declines, OSB Firms, Lumber Gets Free Trade

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for November. Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) increased 0.3% in November based on rising prices for services only partially offset by declining energy prices. Producer prices declined in the prior three months, mainly reflecting energy price declines. Among wood products, softwood lumber… Read More ›

Producer Prices in October – Bad News For The Fed

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for October. Inflation in prices received by producers (prior to sales to consumers) declined 0.4% in October following a 0.5% decline in September and no change in August. The decline was the combination of a 0.3% decline in prices for services and a 0.4% decline in prices for goods…. Read More ›