Glass Product PPI Levels Off in May Amid Broader Inflation Trends

The Producer Price Index (PPI) reading for glass and glass product manufacturing stayed steady in May after dropping by 0.6% in April. On an unadjusted 12-month basis, the PPI for glass products and glass manufacturing was 2.1% higher than in May 2024.

Released by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the PPI for glass and glass product manufacturing tracks the average price change received by producers of various glass products, including flat glass and other fabricated glass products. By monitoring the PPI, economists and businesses can understand the cost trends associated with flat glass production, which is important for pricing decisions and analyzing broader economic conditions.

The overall PPI for final demand, which measures inflation before it hits consumers, rose 0.1% in May after a revised 0.2% decrease in April. On a year-to-year basis, the PPI was up 2.6% compared to May 2024.

Glass and Glazing Material Prices

Flat Glass—The price of flat glass increased by a modest 0.2% in May, following a 1.9% decline in April. Prices for the commodity are down 0.6% on a 12-month basis.

Flat Glass Manufacturing—The cost of manufacturing flat glass (float, sheet and plate process) also increased, rising 0.5% after a 0.5% decrease in April and a 0.1% decrease in March. On a year-to-year basis, the PPI for flat glass manufacturing was up 3% compared to May 2024.

Fabricated Structural Metal Products—The PPI for fabricated structural metal products rose again, jumping 0.3% in May. The PPI rose 0.7% in April. Year to year, the price of fabricated structural metal products was up 4.8% compared to May 2024.

Ornamental and Architectural Metalwork—After four months of rising prices, the cost for ornamental and architectural metalwork moderated in May, dropping by 0.4%. This follows a 0.4% increase in April and a 7.3% jump in March. However, the year-to-year PPI for this type of metalwork was up 9.6% compared to the same time last year. Ornamental and architectural metalwork manufacturers develop architectural metalwork, including handrails, balcony rails, screen doors, window guards and other architectural fittings.

Metal Windows—The PPI for metal windows rose by 0.5% in May, continuing a three-month trend of increasing prices for the commodity (0.2% in April and 2.1% in March). On a year-to-year basis, metal window prices were up 1.9% compared to May 2024.

Metal Doors and Frames—Metal door prices remained unchanged in May. This follows a 0.7% increase in April. The prices for the products also increased by 1% in March. Year-to-year prices for the commodity were up 4.3% in May compared to May 2024.

Builders’ Hardware—The price for builders’ hardware, lock units, key blanks and door and window hardware, rose by 2.7% in May, offsetting a revised 0.1% decrease in April. Year-to-year prices for builders’ hardware products were up 5.3% in May compared to May 2024.