Price/cost/demand roundup

By Staff -- Plant Engineering, 1/1/2000

Change, %, During 12-Mo Ending... and Margins Grade Change, %, During 12-Mo Ending...

Industry SIC Jul 99 Oct 99 Costs are... Grade Jul 99 Oct 99

Wood pallets and skids 2448 0.74 0.17 Falling B 2.32 2.40

Polishes and sanitation goods 2842 2.51 1.87 Rising B 2.45 2.41

Surface active agents 2843 -0.81 -1.52 Rising C -0.60 -0.43

Adhesives and sealants 2891 1.28 0.68 Rising C 8.01 8.93

Lubricating oils and greases 2992 0.28 0.55 Falling D 4.14 4.90

Rubber and plastics hose and belting* 3052 na na Stable na 6.15 5.47

Abrasive products 3291 -0.78 -1.03 Rising D 7.09 7.57

Steel wire and related products 3315 -1.48 -2.16 Stable A 4.98 5.33

Copper rolling and drawing 3351 -9.38 -4.90 Stable B 12.78 14.24

Nonferrous wire drawing and insulating 3357 -5.12 -4.72 Stable B 16.32 17.73

Heating equipment, except electric 3433 1.46 1.58 Stable A 4.73 4.75

Fabricated plate work, boiler shops 3443 2.03 1.75 Stable A 4.02 2.78

Bolts, nuts, rivets, and washers 3452 0.28 -0.22 Stable B 5.08 5.45

Industrial valves 3491 2.71 2.66 Stable A 3.13 3.35

Fluid power valves and hose fittings 3492 1.67 1.73 Stable A 3.13 3.35

Other valves and pipe fittings 3494 0.91 1.35 Stable A 3.13 3.35

Miscellaneous fabricated wire products 3496 0.75 0.65 Stable A 6.65 6.73

Fabricated pipe and fittings 3498 -3.67 -3.61 Stable C 3.13 3.35

Ball and roller bearings 3562 1.17 1.02 Stable B 2.84 2.21

1 Average product price changes are calculated from the producer price index for each 4-digit SIC (standard industrial classification) industry from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2 Analyses of each industry's direct manufacturing cost changes are from Thinking Cap Solutions Inc.'s proprietary Industry Cost Escalation (ICE) model. The "grade" indicates that recent price/cost changes have produced record high (A+) margins to average margins (C) to record low (F-) margins for the average producer in an industry. Grades of A to A+ means plant engineers may be able to strike a better bargain with suppliers and better control plant costs.

3 Growth in U.S. end markets data are from the ICE model and are estimates of output for the domestic end markets which purchase a given industry's products. * Price data are not available (na) for rubber hose and belting and cost data from the ICE model are shown instead.

All data prepared and presented by Thinking Cap Solutions Inc., Port Angeles, WA (360-452-6159; e-mail: thinkcap@olypen.com)

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