The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released October 2018 Producer Price Indexes (PPI) today. The Industrial Chemicals index increased by 3.2% over the last month, 6.6% year to date (YTD) & 9.6% over the last year. Agricultural chemicals & chemical products rose by 1.7% over the last month, 9.8% YTD and 12.4% over the last year. Chemicals and allied products increased by 1.1% over the last month, 4.0% YTD & 5.3% over the last year. Plastics products increased by 0.7% over the last month, 3.4% YTD & 4.3% over the last year. Paints & allied products increased by 0.6% over the last month, 4.7% TYD & 7.2% over the last year. Heating equipment increased by 0.5% over the last month, 5.0% YTD & 5.9% over the last year. Floor coverings increased by 0.5% over the last month, 4.4% YTD & 5.5% over the last year.
Historical annual inflation rate averages through October ’18 for all 2 and 3-digit PPI commodity codes are listed below (capitalized category description denotes a Major BLS PPI Commodity Group i.e. IPIC pool):
