Price inflation for factory operating materials and supplies is starting to heat up across a wider variety of products. In the 12-mo ending July 2000, average prices for products sold by the copper rolling and drawing industry rose 7.2%. Over the same period, prices for lubricating oils and greases increased 4.1%; polishes and sanitation products rose 2.2%.

Plant engineers saw some sharp reversals in inflation trends among a couple of other supplier groups. In the 12-mo ending July 2000, prices in the nonferrous wire drawing and insulating industry rose 3% and prices in the fabricated pipe and fittings industry grew 1.6%. Yet just 3-mo earlier, prices in these two industries were falling at a 0.1% and 0.4% pace, respectively.

The underlying inflationary push is being fueled these days by two trends. One, end-market demand for factory supplies continues to grow at an ever-stronger pace. That means suppliers have the demand muscle to hike their prices. Two, underlying costs are rising for everything from fuel to labor to logistics costs and imported materials. That means suppliers have the desire to raise prices.

Price/cost/demand roundup

IndustrySICAverage Product Prices 1 Change, %, During 12-Mo Ending…Apr 00Average Product Prices 1 Change, %, During 12-Mo Ending… Jul 00Direct Mfg. Costs 2 and Margins Grade Costs are…Direct Mfg. Costs 2 and Margins Grade Costs are… GradeGrowth in U.S. End Markets 3 Change, %, During 12-Mo Ending… Apr 00Growth in U.S. End Markets 3 Change, %, During 12-Mo Ending… Jul 00

Wood pallets and skids	2448	-0.06	-0.01	Falling	B	2.61	2.77
Polishes and sanitation goods	2842	1.65	2.22	Stable	C	3.40	3.48
Surface active agents	2843	-1.81	-0.94	Stable	F	1.52	1.65
Adhesives and sealants	2891	-0.42	-0.13	Stable	F	13.12	14.33
Lubricating oils and greases	2992	2.17	4.12	Falling	F	8.94	10.12
Rubber and plastics hose and belting	3052	-0.21	-0.30	Rising	D	6.97	7.02
Abrasive products	3291	-0.70	-0.35	Rising	F-	11.87	13.79
Steel wire and related products	3315	-2.06	-1.26	Stable	C	6.41	6.03
Copper rolling and drawing	3351	5.19	7.24	Rising	C	26.60	32.45
Nonferrous wire drawing and insulating	3357	-0.13	2.97	Stable	D	29.79	34.08
Heating equipment, except electric	3433	1.28	1.19	Stable	B	4.99	4.57
Fabricated plate work, boiler shops	3443	1.14	1.11	Stable	B	2.88	4.42
Bolts, nuts, rivets, and washers	3452	-0.53	-0.46	Falling	D	6.56	6.17
Industrial valves	3491	1.62	1.27	Stable	B	4.59	4.74
Fluid power valves and hose fittings	3492	1.92	1.83	Stable	A	4.59	4.74
Other valves and pipe fittings	3494	1.51	1.20	Stable	B	4.59	4.74
Miscellaneous fabricated wire products	3496	0.64	0.45	Stable	C	10.83	11.49
Fabricated pipe and fittings	3498	-0.37	1.64	Stable	D	4.59	4.74
Ball and roller bearings	3562	0.79	0.78	Stable	B	5.78	7.14

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+ mean 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.

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

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our WTWH Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.