Bob Richardson

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released October 2019 Producer Price Indexes (PPI) today. The All commodities index increased by 0.2% over the last month & has decreased by 3.0% over the last year on a seasonally unadjusted basis. Farm products increased by 6.0% over the last month & rose by 4.1% over the last year. Refractories increased 2.0% over the last month & rose by 5.1% over the last year. Household appliances increased by 0.9% over the last month & rose by 3.1% over the last year. Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc. increased by 0.5% over the last month & rose by 3.0% over the last year. Heating equipment increased by 0.5% over the last month & rose by 3.6% over the last year. Beverages and beverage materials increased by 0.4% over the last month & rose by 2.6% over the last year.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Indexes (PPI) Historical Annual Inflation Rate Averages for Selected Commodities Through October 2019

 PPI CodeBLS PPI Category Description1 Month Oct. '19YTD Oct. '191 Year Oct. '193 Year Oct. '195 Year Oct. '1910 Year Oct. '1920 Year Oct. '19
01FARM PRODUCTS6.0%-5.0%4.1%4.1%-5.0%1.8%2.4%
011Fruits & melons, fresh/dry vegs. & nuts11.4%-22.9%12.6%5.4%2.4%2.8%3.0%
012Grains8.2%3.8%10.3%7.8%-3.6%0.7%3.8%
013Slaughter livestock6.4%0.2%-1.2%3.9%-7.1%3.0%2.3%
014Slaughter poultry3.8%-7.1%-3.1%2.0%-7.1%1.7%2.6%
015Raw cotton8.0%-18.7%-16.1%-3.5%-6.0%1.1%1.0%
016Raw milk-0.1%18.6%6.7%1.9%-4.8%2.8%0.9%
017Chicken eggs-18.7%-40.5%-31.7%16.8%-11.9%-2.0%2.5%
018Hay, hayseeds and oilseeds6.4%1.6%9.5%1.4%-8.1%0.2%3.4%
02PROCESSED FOODS AND FEEDS0.0%2.1%2.5%1.3%-0.7%1.8%2.3%
021Cereal and bakery products0.6%0.3%1.3%1.5%0.5%1.6%2.5%
022Meats, poultry, and fish-0.8%5.4%4.4%1.2%-2.3%2.6%2.3%
023Dairy products0.1%6.4%5.0%1.9%-1.5%2.4%1.8%
024Processed fruits and vegetables-0.5%-0.3%0.2%1.4%1.5%1.6%2.5%
025Sugar and confectionery0.0%2.5%3.4%1.0%1.3%1.5%2.6%
026Beverages and beverage materials0.4%1.4%2.6%1.4%1.3%1.4%2.0%
027Fats and oils-0.6%-5.6%-4.0%-2.0%-2.8%0.7%3.5%
028Miscellaneous processed foods0.3%-1.3%0.7%1.8%0.6%1.3%2.0%
029Prepared animal feeds0.7%0.2%1.2%0.6%-3.8%0.9%3.3%
03TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND APPAREL-0.1%-0.1%-0.2%1.7%0.7%1.5%1.1%
031Synthetic fibers0.0%-0.2%0.2%3.6%1.0%1.6%1.2%
032Processed yarns and threads-1.2%-3.8%-4.7%1.7%-0.3%1.4%1.3%
033Greige fabrics-0.6%-2.0%-1.5%0.5%-0.3%1.1%1.1%
034Finished fabrics0.2%1.7%1.7%1.8%1.0%1.9%1.4%
038Apparel & other fabricated textile prods-0.1%1.2%1.3%1.3%1.2%1.7%1.0%
039Miscellaneous textile products/services0.0%-7.8%-9.6%-1.2%-1.9%-0.1%0.7%
04HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, AND RELATED PRODUCTS-1.9%-3.8%-5.3%-5.5%-6.8%0.2%0.5%
041Hides and skins, incl. cattle-7.3%-16.4%-19.9%-16.6%-18.7%-1.5%-1.5%
042Leather-1.1%-4.1%-6.1%-8.7%-9.7%-1.9%0.0%
043Footwear0.0%3.1%3.0%1.9%1.9%2.7%1.9%
044Other leather and related products0.1%1.1%1.1%1.5%1.8%1.9%1.5%
05FUELS AND RELATED PRODUCTS AND POWER-0.7%-7.0%-12.7%2.5%-5.6%-0.1%3.3%
051Coal-0.4%-1.1%0.7%1.5%-0.2%1.0%4.1%
053Gas fuels6.4%-59.2%-35.0%-11.5%-17.5%-7.0%-1.0%
055Utility natural gas1.7%-21.0%-5.2%-0.9%-3.2%-0.9%2.5%
056Crude petroleum (domestic production)-9.3%-1.1%-32.8%2.2%-13.3%-3.3%4.4%
057Petroleum products, refined2.0%5.9%-15.7%7.4%-8.0%0.2%5.4%
058Asphalt and other petroleum and coal products, n.e.c.-4.8%-11.2%-19.1%12.7%-4.1%4.3%7.4%
06CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS1.2%-1.6%-4.3%2.3%0.5%2.2%3.4%
061Industrial chemicals4.0%-4.3%-13.3%2.2%-2.9%0.3%3.7%
062Paints and allied products0.0%2.6%3.1%3.5%1.4%2.3%3.3%
063Drugs and pharmaceuticals0.0%2.5%3.4%4.0%5.5%5.1%4.4%
064Fats and oils, inedible0.1%1.2%4.5%-3.4%-6.8%-0.3%3.4%
065Agricultural chemicals and chemical products-0.7%-7.5%-6.8%1.7%-2.9%1.6%2.7%
066Plastic resins and materials0.8%-7.8%-8.0%-0.1%-2.5%1.4%2.6%
067Other chemicals and allied products-0.1%1.2%1.1%1.6%1.3%1.7%2.1%
07RUBBER AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS-0.1%-0.8%-1.2%1.9%0.5%1.7%2.3%
071Rubber and rubber products0.0%0.1%-1.1%1.4%-0.1%1.4%2.3%
072Plastic products-0.1%-1.0%-1.2%2.1%0.7%1.7%2.4%
08LUMBER AND WOOD PRODUCTS0.2%-0.8%-2.0%1.7%1.0%2.5%1.3%
081Lumber0.2%-1.7%-2.7%0.7%-0.7%3.3%0.7%
082Millwork0.4%0.8%0.6%2.9%2.6%2.5%2.0%
083Plywood0.3%-8.9%-15.4%0.2%-0.7%1.6%1.0%
084Other wood products0.0%2.5%2.3%3.6%1.8%2.1%1.5%
085Logs, bolts, timber, pulpwood, woodchips and other roundwood products-0.3%-4.0%-5.6%-0.7%-0.2%2.3%0.7%
086Prefabricated wood buildings & components0.1%1.6%1.9%3.6%2.8%2.3%2.4%
087Treated wood and contract wood preserving0.1%3.4%2.2%2.0%0.6%2.9%1.3%
09PULP,PAPER, AND ALLIED PRODUCTS-0.1%-2.2%-2.2%1.2%0.5%1.4%1.9%
091Pulp, paper, and prod., ex. bldg. paper-0.1%-3.9%-3.7%1.1%0.2%1.5%1.9%
092Building paper & building board mill prods.1.0%-2.8%-13.6%-1.6%0.2%2.6%1.7%
094Publications, printed matter & printing material-0.2%2.6%3.2%1.8%1.1%0.9%
10METALS AND METAL PRODUCTS-1.6%-4.8%-4.2%3.3%0.0%1.1%2.7%
101Iron and steel-4.7%-16.3%-15.0%3.0%-2.5%0.4%2.9%
102Nonferrous metals-0.2%0.8%1.7%4.8%0.3%1.2%3.4%
103Metal containers-2.6%-0.1%0.2%3.8%1.6%2.2%
104Hardware0.0%1.0%1.3%2.1%1.6%1.5%2.0%
105Plumbing fixtures and fittings0.0%3.2%5.1%3.3%2.5%2.2%2.4%
106Heating equipment0.5%3.4%3.6%3.3%3.0%2.6%3.0%
107Fabricated structural metal products-0.4%-0.3%-0.6%3.2%1.9%1.9%2.6%
108Miscellaneous metal products-0.1%1.1%1.0%2.4%1.1%1.1%1.7%
11MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT-0.1%1.4%2.0%1.6%1.1%0.9%0.7%
111Agricultural machinery and equipment0.2%0.9%2.3%1.8%1.5%1.7%2.3%
112Construction machinery and equipment0.0%2.1%5.3%2.2%1.7%2.1%2.3%
113Metalworking machinery and equipment-0.1%1.5%2.2%1.9%1.4%1.5%1.5%
114General purpose machinery and equipment-0.1%2.1%2.3%2.8%2.2%2.2%2.6%
115Electronic computers and computer equipment4.0%-3.7%-5.5%-2.0%-3.1%-3.5%-6.1%
116Special industry machinery and equipment0.4%2.0%2.5%1.8%1.5%1.1%1.4%
117Electrical machinery and equipment-0.3%1.1%1.7%1.1%0.6%0.3%-0.1%
118Miscellaneous instruments0.0%1.9%2.1%1.9%1.8%1.6%1.7%
119Miscellaneous machinery-0.3%1.5%2.0%1.3%0.9%0.8%1.7%
12FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD DURABLES0.3%1.7%2.3%2.4%1.7%1.4%1.5%
121Household furniture0.6%1.6%1.7%2.4%2.0%1.7%1.9%
122Commercial furniture-0.3%1.8%3.2%3.3%2.3%1.8%2.0%
123Floor coverings0.7%0.3%0.5%2.1%1.3%1.5%2.2%
124Household appliances0.9%2.8%3.1%2.2%1.1%1.1%0.7%
125Home electronic equipment0.0%2.3%2.7%0.6%0.6%0.0%-1.7%
126Other household durable goods0.2%1.2%1.5%1.3%1.3%1.1%1.3%
13NONMETALIC MINERAL PRODUCTS-0.2%1.8%1.7%2.8%2.6%2.4%3.0%
131Glass-0.3%1.3%1.1%1.8%2.6%1.9%1.2%
132Concrete ingredients and related products-0.2%3.3%3.5%3.4%3.9%2.8%3.6%
133Concrete products-0.3%3.1%3.7%3.4%3.7%2.6%3.3%
134Clay construction products ex. refractories0.1%1.3%1.2%0.9%1.4%0.6%1.2%
135Refractories2.0%6.4%5.1%4.4%2.9%2.4%3.5%
136Asphalt felts and coatings-0.2%-2.4%-1.5%2.9%1.0%1.0%4.5%
137Gypsum products0.3%-4.2%-6.4%2.4%1.7%4.5%1.9%
138Glass containers0.1%2.7%2.8%1.9%1.6%1.6%2.6%
139Other nonmetallic minerals-0.3%1.0%0.2%2.0%0.8%2.2%3.2%
14TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT0.6%0.3%0.5%0.9%1.2%1.2%1.2%
141Motor vehicles and equipment0.9%-0.2%0.0%0.7%1.1%1.0%0.6%
142Aircraft and aircraft equipment0.1%1.2%1.6%1.3%1.2%1.7%2.4%
143Ships and boats0.3%3.1%2.9%1.8%1.6%1.6%2.5%
144Railroad equipment0.0%1.2%-0.4%0.0%0.7%1.0%2.1%
149Transportation equipment, n.e.c.-0.1%0.5%1.4%1.9%1.6%1.2%1.4%
15MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS0.3%3.6%3.6%3.0%2.5%2.4%2.5%
151Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc.0.5%3.7%3.0%1.3%1.1%1.1%1.1%
152Tobacco products, incl. stemmed & redried0.0%4.3%4.4%5.7%5.5%5.4%4.3%
153Notions0.5%1.0%1.3%1.8%1.5%2.1%2.5%
154Photographic equipment and supplies-0.2%7.0%6.9%3.3%1.7%2.0%1.2%
155Mobile homes-0.1%8.2%7.3%5.9%4.3%3.8%3.6%
156Medical, surgical & personal aid devices0.7%1.5%1.5%1.2%1.0%0.9%1.2%
157Other industrial safety equipment0.0%-0.9%2.5%0.1%1.0%1.2%1.6%
159Other miscellaneous products0.1%6.2%6.3%3.3%2.0%2.0%1.9%

CPI vs. PPI Supermarket Inflation Comparison Through October 2019

Inflation Rate PeriodCPI InflationPPI InflationDIFF: CPI VS PPI
9 Months Ended October '190.99%0.71%0.28%
8 Months Ended September '190.56%0.22%0.33%
8 Months Ended August '190.64%0.29%0.35%
7 Months Ended July '190.60%0.39%0.21%
6 Months Ended June '190.56%0.52%0.04%
5 Months Ended May '190.80%-0.04%0.84%
4 Months Ended April '190.79%-0.04%0.83%
3 Months Ended March '190.80%0.17%0.63%
2 Months Ended February '190.64%-0.19%0.83%
1 Month Ended January '190.49%0.13%0.36%
12 Months Ended December '180.41%2.85%-2.44%
12 Months Ended December '170.47%2.85%-2.39%
12 Months Ended December '160.10%1.32%-1.22%
12 Months Ended December '150.11%0.19%-0.08%
12 Months Ended December '142.46%5.07%-2.61%
12 Months Ended December '130.14%2.04%-1.90%
12 Months Ended December '121.00%2.72%-1.71%
12 Months Ended December '114.07%5.20%-1.13%
12 Months Ended December '100.90%2.92%-2.03%
12 Months Ended December '09-0.59%1.72%-2.30%
3 Year Average Ended Dec. '180.32%2.34%-2.02%
5 Year Average Ended Dec. '180.71%2.46%-1.75%
10 Year Average Ended Dec. '180.91%2.69%-1.78%

Rates are representative of a supermarket’s actual inventory balances, product mix & applicable BLS categories; inflation rates calculated using a supermarket that has the following departments: bakery, beer/wine, dairy, deli, frozen foods, gen. merch., grocery, health & beauty aids, meat, pharmacy, produce & tobacco. PPI inflation calculated uses BLS Table 9 preliminary indexes; CPI inflation calculated uses U.S. City averages for all urban consumers, seasonally unadjusted.

BLS PPI Resources & Links

PPI BLS Economic News Release BLS PPI Table 9 Detailed Report BLS PPI Table 11 Detailed Report Good LIFO Candidates