The latest Producer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a drop in material prices for window and door manufacturing from October to November 2023, but with increases in some categories in a year-over-year basis.
| Category | Oct–Nov 2023 | Nov 2022–2023 |
|---|---|---|
| flat glass | 0.0% | +1.1% |
| flat glass manufacturing | -0.1% | -6.3% |
| metal windows | -0.1% | -0.5% |
| metal doors, frames | -0.1% | +2.1% |
| wood window units | 0.0% | +4.5% |
| wood doors | -0.1% | +1.6% |
| thermoplastic resins, plastic materials | +0.6% | -6.7% |
| fiberglass plastic products | 0.0% | +9.2% |
| builders' hardware | 0.0% | +0.4% |
From October to November, window and door material prices stayed the same for flat glass, wood window units, fiberglass plastic products and builders' hardware. Flat glass manufacturing, metal windows, metal doors and frames, and wood doors all dropped by -0.1%. Thermoplastic resins and plastic materials increased by +0.6%.
Year-over-year data (November 2022 to November 2023) shows increases for flat glass (+1.1%), metal doors and frames (+2.1%), wood window units (+4.5%), wood doors (+1.6%), fiberglass plastic products (+9.2%), and builders’ hardware (+0.4%). For the same period, there were decreases in flat glass manufacturing (-6.3%), metal windows (-0.5%), and thermoplastic resins and plastic materials (-6.7%).
About the Index
The Producer Price Index is a measure of inflation at the wholesale level that tracks the average change over time in the prices domestic producers receive for their output. The PPI is compiled from thousands of indexes measuring producer prices by industry and product category. 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. The PPI is an important economic indicator that is used to measure inflation, track industry trends and forecast future economic activity.
