Economy
January 20, 2019
PPI Data Shows Steel Losing Ground to Other Materials
Written by Peter Wright
This article on the competitiveness of steel against other products was originally produced last week for Steel Market Update Premium members. We want our entire readership to review the analysis done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and then analyzed by Peter Wright on our staff. If you would like information about upgrading to Premium membership, please contact Paige Mayhair at 724-720-1012.
Steel became less competitive in 2018 against aluminum, plastic and wood, according to Steel Market Update’s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data. The cost of carbon cold rolled sheet was up more than twice as much as aluminum sheet, and steel pipe was up by nine times as much as plastic pipe. The price increase of metal prefabricated buildings was almost three times as much as for the competing wood product.
