LIFOPro has completed the annual updates to the Excel file used by LIFOPro clients for populating BLS PPI Table 9 category names via VLOOKUP formulas in their inventory detail files. LIFOPro clients should use the email received containing the Complete Table 9 PPI Category Name file download link to obtain the updated file (feel free to call or email us to obtain the download link if needed). LIFOPro clients can use the download link provided to them to obtain the updated file. The changes represent the cumulative set of added, deleted (discontinued) and recode PPI categories/codes that have been published over the last year (BLS publishes these changes tri-annually; LIFOPro updates the PPI Table 9 Category Name File annually). The LIFOPro software’s PPI category name file (catname.ppi) has also been updated to include these changes and LIFOPro software users that have automatic downloads enabled will have this file updated automatically upon entering the IPIC module. LIFOPro software users that manually download their PPI LIFOPro software files from the “Other Downloads & Resources” tab of our downloads page will need to download the updated catname.ppi file to replace their old file.
How & Why the BLS Changes PPI Table 9 Categories
How and why the BLS changes PPI categories are dependent on the type of the change; they are as follows:
- Additions- These changes represent PPI categories that the BLS begun collecting price surveys and publishing price indexes on for the first time. Common reasons why additions are made relate to new products being produced that never existed before as a result of technological advances. Examples include plastic products that used to only be produced using metal and new types of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages that were previously unavailable but are now produced on a large scale
- Deletions (discontinuations)- These changes represent PPI categories that the BLS has published price indexes for in the past but will no longer collect price surveys nor publish indexes for in the future. Common reasons why deletions occur include commodities becoming obsolete (i.e., windmills or typewriters) or an insufficient amount of price surveys being available to merit index publication (this often happens with products that used to be but are no longer made in the United States due to production facilities being moved to foreign countries; examples include certain children’s toys and many consumers electronics products).
- Recoded – These changes represent PPI categories that the BLS has and will continue to publish price indexes for under a different – numbered PPI commodity code.
How The Changes Impact IPIC PPI LIFO Calculations for LIFO-PRO Clients
Clients are largely unaffected by these changes as the LIFOPro software automatically reassigns the appropriate replacement codes to discontinued and recoded PPI categories. We do encourage them to review the list of new PPI categories in order to determine if PPI category assignments should change for items that the new code applies to (see list below).
Notable BLS PPI Table 9 Category Changes
- New Codes:
| PPI Category | PPI Category Description |
|---|---|
| 026211 | Soft drinks, energy and sport |
| 02621101 | Soft drinks, energy and sport |
| 0289016221 | Perishable beverage dairy milk alternatives, including plant-based |
| 0289016222 | All other liquid dairy product alternatives, including plant-based |
| 038108084 | Knit outerwear, made in knitting mills |
| 0381080841 | Knit outerwear, made in knitting mills |
| 0381080845 | Knit outerwear, made in knitting mills |
| 10250112 | Aluminum sheet, plate, and foil |
| 10890709 | Other metal stampings, n.e.c., incl. stamped and pressed metal, and crowns and closures |
| 108907092 | Stamped and pressed metal end products, including vitreous enameled products |
| 113A03 | Rolling mill and other metalworking machinery, including assembly machines |
| 113A0310 | Rolling mill and other metalworking machinery, including assembly machines |
| 113A03101 | Metalworking assembly machines |
| 113A03102 | Other metalworking machinery |
| 113A03103 | Rolling mill machinery |
| 11430114 | Fluid power pumps and motors, including parts |
| 11760613P | Search, detection, navigation & guidance systems and equipment primary to 3345113 |
- Discontinued Codes:
| Deletions | PPI Category Description |
|---|---|
| 02110704 | Other sweet goods, excluding frozen, made in retail |
| 02110804 | Soft cakes, excluding frozen, made in retail bakeri |
| 02110904 | Pies (fruit, cream, and custard), excluding frozen |
| 021121041 | Cracker sandwiches, from crackers produced in same plant |
| 038106542 | Infants' apparel, excluding underwear and nightwear, made from purchased fabrics |
| 038303215 | Cordage and twine, cotton |
| 06340302RX | Pharmaceuticals for veterinary use, prescription |
| 094711011 | Label screen printing |
| 1015021 | Pressure and soil pipe and fittings, cast iron |
| 10150215 | Cast iron pressure and soil pipe and fittings, all sizes |
| 101504131 | Ductile iron castings for automotive uses |
| 101504132 | Ductile iron castings for all other uses |
| 101504EY | Molds and stools for heavy steel ingots |
| 10250105 | Aluminum sheet and strip |
| 10250111 | Plain aluminum foil (under 006 inches) |
| 10250129 | Aluminum plate |
| 10250171 | Aluminum welded tube |
| 10890532 | Metal crowns and closures |
| 108907014 | Computer and office machine metal job stampings |
| 10890703 | Metal spinning products, excluding cooking and kitchen utensils |
| 113A01 | Metalworking assembly machines |
| 113A02 | Other metalworking machinery |
| 113B | Rolling mill machinery |
| 113B01 | Rolling mill machinery |
| 11430112 | Nonaerospace-type reciprocating fluid power pumps |
| 11430113 | Nonaerospace-type rotary and other fluid power pumps |
| 11430115 | Nonaerospace-type fluid power motors |
| 11430118 | Aerospace-type fluid power pumps and motors |
| 11430119 | Parts for fluid power pumps, motors, and hydrostatic transmissions |
| 117522019 | Ducts, including plug-in units and accessories, 1000 volts or less |
| 11785600 | Microwave components, electron tubes, and other electronic components, nec |
| 141205013 | Gasoline engines and engine parts, rebuilt |
| 159301131 | Nonelectronic pianos |
| 159A09019 | All other miscellaneous fabricated products |
- Recoded Codes:
| Recoded | PPI Category Description |
|---|---|
| 038108081 | Knit outerwear, made in knitting mills |
| 10890706 | Stamped and pressed metal end products, including vitreous enameled products |
| 113A0101 | Metalworking assembly machines |
| 113A0201 | Other metalworking machinery |
| 113B0101 | Rolling mill machinery |