The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) dropped last week and it shows most prices for materials used in door and window manufacturing continued to increase, not only from September to October 2024, but on a year-over-year basis as well.
In October, the monthly PPI for flat glass in the commodity category continued to climb, just barely, rising by 0.1% from the previous month and up 2.1% compared to the previous year. According to 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 continued the positive trend with a 0.4% increase from September 2024, and a 4.2% bump 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).”
The PPI for metal windows inched up by 0.1% from September and by 0.5% over the October 2023 report. Prices for metal doors and frames also increased from September to October, improving 1.6% and rising 2.6% since last year. Prices for wood window units stagnated from the previous month but increased 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Prices for wood doors for interior and exterior applications was the first drop in door and window material pricing, down 0.3% from September to October 2024, but the category maintained an increase of 2.5% over October 2023 pricing.
The price for thermoplastic resins and plastic materials was recorded 4.0% higher than in September 2024, but only saw a jump of 2.4% from October of last year. Prices for fiberglass plastic products showed no change from the previous month but had an increase of 6.3% over the previous October.
Rounding out the list is the cost of builders’ hardware, which includes hardware used in doors and windows. It also flatlined from September to October, but dropped by 0.6% from October 2023.
| Category | September to October 2024 | October 2023 to October 2024 |
| Flat Glass | +0.1% | +2.1% |
| Flat Glass Manufacturing | +0.4% | +4.2% |
| Metal Windows | +0.1% | +0.5% |
| Metal Doors and Frames | +1.6% | +2.6% |
| Wood Window Units | 0.0% | +3.2% |
| Wood Doors | -0.3% | +2.5% |
| Thermoplastic Resins and Plastic Materials | +4.0% | +2.4% |
| Fiberglass Plastic Products | 0.0% | +6.3% |
| Builders’ Hardware | 0.0% | -0.6% |