Flat glass prices rose 0.8 percent in March
Flat glass prices rose 0.8 percent in March 2015, following a 0.6 percent decrease in February, according to the latest Producer Price Index Report (PPI) issued by the U.S. Labor Department.
The PPI 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 123.4, and prices are up 2.8 percent from March 2014. In another report, import prices for glass and glassware dipped 0.1 percent after remaining stagnant in February. Import prices are down 0.8 percent from a year ago.
Export prices for glass and glassware rose 0.2 percent for the second straight month after a 0.9 percent jump over the prior two months. Export prices for glass and glassware are up 1.9 percent from this time last year.
Prices of materials for construction saw a decrease of 0.4 after dropping 0.3 percent in February. Prices in that category are up 0.9 percent from March 2014. Final demand for construction rose slightly by 0.1 percent in March, coming off a 0.5 percent increase the prior two months. Those prices are up 1.9 percent from a year ago.
On the whole, the PPI for final demand increased 0.2 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, after a 0.5 percent dip in February and a 0.8 percent decrease in January. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand decreased 0.8 percent for the 12 months ended in March.
Overall prices for U.S. imports fell 0.3 percent in March following an increase of 0.2 percent in February. Export prices rose 0.1 percent in March, after a 0.2 percent drop in February.