Electrical Price Index Increases 0.1% in July

EM's Electrical Price Index (EPI) saw a slight increase last month but is up 3.4% over July 2009. The only product categories that increased more than one percent were fasteners (+3.3%); fans and blowers (+2.6%); and air conditioners (+2.2%). None of the product categories decreased more than one percent in July. Building wire (+11.4%) and power wire and cable (+21.7%) are up significantly YTY.

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

Electrical Price Index — July 2010

1997=100JulyJuneJuly% Change 2010 2010 2009 1 Mo. 1 Yr. Building Wire & Cable 219.2 221 196.7 -0.8 11.4 Power Wire & Cable 190.1 188.8 156.2 0.7 21.7 Telephone 160.4 161.2 153.5 -0.5 4.5 Hand & Power Tools 115.7 115.8 115.5 0 0.2 Elec. Heating Equip. 124.3 123.9 123.5 0.3 0.7 Residential Lighting 121.2 121.1 122.9 0.1 -1.4 Industrial Fixtures 117.5 117.5 118.8 0 -1.1 Fans & Blowers 133.5 130.1 132.9 2.6 0.4 Wiring Devices & Connectors 119.9 119.8 117.6 0.1 2.0 Pole Line Hardware 144 144.3 140.4 -0.2 2.6 Boxes 151.9 152.2 148.1 -0.2 2.6 Conduit Fittings 124.6 124.6 124.3 0 0.3 Metal Conduit 162.3 162.3 161.5 0 0.5 Nonmetallic Conduit 131.4 131.5 130.5 -0.1 0.8 Motors 137.9 137.2 132.1 0.5 4.4 Generators 133.2 132.8 129 0.3 3.3 Ballasts 137.7 137.7 137.7 0 0 Elect. Meas.&Integ. Inst. 111.2 111.2 111.2 0 0 Transformers 122 122.0 121.5 -0.1 0.4 Panelboards & Switches 145.4 145.1 140.6 0.2 3.5 Circuit Breakers 152 151.6 146.9 0.2 3.5 Switchgear 155.2 156.8 152.7 -1 1.6 Fuses 141.1 141.7 137.5 -0.4 2.6 Industrial Controls 138.8 138.5 134.1 0.2 3.5 Lamps 121.7 121.6 119.6 0.1 1.7 Appliances 102.4 102.7 103.5 -0.3 -1.0 Air Conditioners 116.3 113.8 122.2 2.2 -4.8 Fasteners 138.6 134.1 131.5 3.3 5.3 Total Index 138.1 138.0 133.6 0.1 3.4