November PPI Reflects Season of Uncertainty

The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) dropped last week, showing prices for materials used in door and window manufacturing, not only from October to November 2024, but on a year-over-year basis as well.

In November, the monthly PPI for flat glass in the commodity category dropped for the first time in months, down 3.4% from the previous month, dipping 1.6% 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 also fell, dropping 9.3% from October 2024, down 5.9% 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 showed no change from October but did have a small increase—0.6%—over the November 2023 report. Prices for metal doors and frames reflected a minor increase from October to November, rising by 0.1%, and by 2.7% since last year. Prices for wood window units flatlined from the previous month but recorded a 3.2% increase on a year-over-year basis. Prices for wood doors for interior and exterior applications had a split result in November 2024, down 0.8% from October, but up 1.8% over November 2023 pricing.

The price for thermoplastic resins and plastic materials also stagnated from October 2024, while seeing an increase of 6.3% from November of last year. Prices for fiberglass plastic products flatlined from the previous month while increasing by 6.3% over the previous November.
The cost of builders’ hardware, which includes hardware used in doors and windows, also saw no changes from October to November, while dropping by 0.6% compared to November 2023.