Flat glass prices rose 0.8% in March 2015, following a 0.6% decrease in February, according to the latest Producer Price Index Report (PPI) issued by the US Labor Department. The PPI program measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output, according to the US Bureau of Labor Satistics (BLS). The prices included in the PPI are from the first commercial transaction for many products and some services. The flat glass index sits at 123.4, and prices are 2.8% up from March 2014. In another report, import prices for glass and glassware dipped 0.1% after remaining stagnant in February. Import prices are down 0.8% from a year ago. Export prices for glass and glassware rose 0.2% for the second straight month after a 0.9% jump over the prior two months. Export prices for glass and glassware are up 1.9% from this time last year. Prices of materials for construction saw a decrease of 0.4 after dropping 0.3% in February. Prices in that category are up 0.9% from March 2014. Final demand for construction rose slightly by 0.1% in March, coming off a 0.5% increase the previous two months. Those prices are up 1.9% from a year ago. On the whole, the PPI for final demand increased 0.2% in March, seasonally adjusted, after a 0.5% dip in February and a 0.8% decrease in January. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand decreased 0.8% for the 12 months ended March. Overall prices for US imports fell 0.3% in March, following an increase of 0.2% in February.
