Wire and Cable Leads Declines in March EPI

Declines in building wire (-5.2%) and power cable (-1.8%) from February were the most notable changes in EM’s Electrical Price Index for March. These two categories also showed the biggest price declines from March 2011, with building wire down 7.7% and power cable down 4.2%. Pole-line hardware, boxes and appliances (all up 1%) and air conditioners (+2.6%) were the biggest gainers.

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