The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) dropped last week and it shows prices for materials used in door and window manufacturing have fluctuated, not only from July to August 2023, but on a year-over-year basis as well.

In August, the monthly PPI for flat glass in the commodity category was split, dropping by 1.2% from the previous month but rising 2.3% compared to the previous year. According to BLS, the commodity classification “organizes products and services by similarity or material composition, regardless of the industry classification of the producing establishment.”

The index for flat glass manufacturing dropped 1.1% from July 2023, and decreased 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. The industry classification measures “changes in prices received for the industry’s output sold outside the industry (that is, its net output).”

The PPI for metal windows showed no change from July and bumped up just 0.5% over the August 2022 report. Prices for metal doors and frames also increased, marginally, from July to August, improving 0.5% and improved 1.6% since last year. Prices for wood window units flatlined from the previous month and went up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. Prices for wood doors for interior and exterior applications dropped slightly in August 2023, down 0.5% from July, but finished 5.2% over August 2022 pricing.

The price for thermoplastic resins and plastic materials were down, 1.6% below prices in July 2023, and having dropped 14.4% from August of last year. Prices for fiberglass plastic products stagnated from the previous month but had an increase of 10.1% over the previous August.

The cost of builders’ hardware, which includes hardware used in doors and windows, also saw no change from July to August, and rose – slightly – by 0.5% from August 2022.

Monthly and Yearly Change in Door and Window Material Prices