Durrant Pate/Contributor

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data indicating a 0.5 per cent decline in the producer price index (PPI) for final demand in October.

This small pull-back follows a 0.4 per cent increase in September. This marks the most significant decrease in final demand prices since April 2020, reflecting a seasonally adjusted pattern. 

On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand showed a 1.3 per cent increase over the 12 months ending in October. The decline in October was largely driven by a substantial 1.4 per cent fall in the index for final demand goods, while prices for final demand services remained unchanged during the same period.

Excluding the impact of foods, energy, and trade services, the index for final demand showed a modest 0.1 per cent increase in October, marking the fifth consecutive monthly rise. Over the 12 months ending in October, prices for final demand, excluding foods, energy, and trade services, moved up by 2.9 per cent.

This is indicative of a continued but relatively moderate upward trend.

Final demand goods

In October, prices for final demand goods experienced a decline of 1.4 per cent, marking the first decrease since a 1.5 percent fall in May. The primary contributor to this decline was the substantial drop of 6.5 percent in the index for final demand energy. 

Prices for final demand foods also saw a decrease, falling by 0.2 per cent. However, the index for final demand goods excluding foods and energy showed a slight increase of 0.1 per cent.

A significant portion, over 80 per cent, of the October decline in the index for final demand goods was due to a substantial 15.3 per cent drop in gasoline prices. Other notable decreases were observed in indexes for diesel fuel, hay, hayseeds, oilseeds, home heating oil, liquefied petroleum gas, and light motor trucks. 

Conversely, prices for tobacco products increased by 2.4 per cent, while indexes for butter and residual fuels also showed upward movement.

Final demand services

In October, prices for final demand services remained unchanged, marking the end of six consecutive months of increases. Notably, there was a 1.5 per cent increase in the index for final demand transportation and warehousing services, along with a 0.1 per cent rise in prices for final demand services excluding trade, transportation, and warehousing. 

These increases balanced out a 0.7 per cent decline in margins for final demand trade services, where trade indexes measure changes in margins received by wholesalers and retailers. Within the index for final demand services in October, notable increases were observed in prices for airline passenger services, which rose by 3.1 per cent. 

Additionally, indexes for chemicals and allied products wholesaling, inpatient care, outpatient care (partial), and truck transportation of freight also experienced increases. Conversely, margins for machinery and vehicle wholesaling declined by 2.9 per cent. 

Moreover, decreases were noted in indexes for apparel, footwear, and accessories retailing, portfolio management, traveler accommodation services, and health, beauty, and optical goods retailing.