EPI Sees Mild 0.2% Increase in September

Following its long-time trend of little or no increases, EM’s Electrical Price Index (EPI) came in at +0.2% last month, -1.2% off Sept. 2014. Residential Lighting (+3.5%); Fasteners (+1.5%); and Switchgear (+1.1%); saw the largest increases. The wire and cable categories are still down big-time, year-over-year (YOY), with building wire down -5.2% and Power Wire & Cable down -5.8%.

Note: All EPI series represent Global Insight aggregates of Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) producer price indices (PPIs). The revised data partly reflect redefinitions of specific PPIs by the BLS, but mostly reflect the rebenchmarking of all EPI price series to a 1997 base year. The four following EPI series have been affected by BLS redefinitions: boxes, conduit (fittings), non­metallic conduit, and generators. Sources: U.S. Bureau of  Labor  Statistics; Global Insight