The ISM Prices Index registered 78 percent in April, 3 percentage points higher than the 75 percent reported in March. This is the 10th consecutive month in which the Prices Index has registered above 50 percent. While 60 percent of respondents reported paying higher prices and 4 percent reported paying lower prices, 36 percent of supply executives reported paying the same prices as in March. A Prices Index above 49.3 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Index of Manufacturers Prices.
The 16 industries reporting paying increased prices during the month of April — listed in order — are: Wood Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Primary Metals; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. There were no industry reports of paying lower prices on average during April.
Prices | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index | |||||||||||||||||||||
Apr 2010 | 60 | 36 | 4 | +56 | 78.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Mar 2010 | 53 | 44 | 3 | +50 | 75.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Feb 2010 | 39 | 56 | 5 | +34 | 67.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Jan 2010 | 44 | 52 | 4 | +40 | 70.0 |