PPI Shows Prices Rose in August for Key Materials

The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) dropped last week, showing most prices for materials used in door and window manufacturing continuing to rise across the board—not only from July to August 2025, but on a year-over-year basis.

In August, the monthly PPI for flat glass in the commodity category continued to climb, rising by 1.2% from the previous month, up 3.9% compared to the previous year. The price for softwood lumber, also in the commodity category, dropped from July to August by 0.4%, while increasing overall from last year—up 5.2% over August 2024. 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 an upward trend with a 0.3% bump from July 2025, and a full 4.7% increase 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 increased by 3.1% from July, clocking in 6.9% higher than the August 2024 reporting. Prices for metal doors and frames also increased from July to August, by 6.4%, while rising 11.7% over last year. Prices for wood window units notched its first decline, slipping 0.1% from the previous month, while rising 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. Prices for wood doors for interior and exterior applications flatlined from July, sliding downward by 4.1% over August 2024 pricing.

The price for thermoplastic resins and plastic materials dipped by 0.4% from the previous month, sliding 3.8% from August of last year. Prices for fiberglass plastic products also down this year, by 0.4% from the previous month, but had a slight increase (1.8%) over the previous August.

The cost of builders’ hardware, which includes hardware used in doors and windows, rose the slightest amount (0.1%) from July to August, and by a full 10% from August 2024.