The cost of glass manufacturing and products dipped slightly in December, ending the year on a positive note following several months of incremental price increases.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index (PPI), glass and glass product manufacturing costs decreased by 0.1% in December, mitigating a revised 0.7% increase in November. The year-to-year PPI for glass and glass product manufacturing was up 2.8% in December compared to December 2023.
The PPI measures the prices of goods and services at the wholesale level in the United States, from raw materials to finished products. The overall PPI increased by 0.2% in December. The PPI for final demand rose 0.2% last month after an unrevised 0.4% jump in November. On a year-on-year basis, the PPI climbed 3.3%, which is the most since February 2023.
Glass and Glazing Material Prices
Flat Glass— Following its first price drop in five months, flat glass prices rose by 0.2% in December. Prices for the commodity dropped by a revised 0.1% in November. Prices for flat glass rose in October (0.1%), September (0.2%), August (0.1%) and July (0.4%). Year-to-year, flat glass prices were up 1.3% compared to December 2023.
Flat Glass Manufacturing—After revisions reduced November’s initial 9.3% drop to -0.3%, the price of flat glass manufacturing rose in December by 0.5%. November’s drop ended four months of increased prices (0.2% in October, 0.3% in September, 0.4% in August and 1.1% in July). Flat glass manufacturing prices were up 3.5% year-to-year compared to December 2023.
Fabricated Structural Metal Products—The price for fabricated structural metal products remained steady in December, following a 0.8% increase in November. On a year-to-year basis, fabricated structural metal product prices were down 0.5% in December compared to December 2023.
Ornamental and Architectural Metalwork—The price of ornamental and architectural metalwork products was flat in December. This followed a 1% increase in November, which ended a relatively stable period for the product throughout the second half of 2024. Ornamental and architectural metalwork prices were up 9.7% yearly compared to December 2023.
Metal Windows—Metal window prices remained steady in December. The product prices had ticked up slightly in October, rising by 0.1%. On a year-to-year basis, metal window prices were up 0.6% in December compared to December 2023. Metal windows include window frames comprised of aluminum or steel.
Metal Doors and Frames—Prices for metal doors and frames remained steady in December, following a 0.1% increase in November. Year-to-year prices were up 2.7% in December compared to December 2023.
Builders’ Hardware—The prices for builders’ hardware, including door and window hardware, were unchanged for the seventh straight month. Year-to-year prices for builders’ hardware products were up 0.7% in December compared to December 2023. The builders’ hardware commodity includes lock units, key blanks and door and window hardware.
Source: USGlass with additional information added by GlassBalkan