Industrial product and raw materials price indexes, September 2012
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The Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) was up 0.5% in September compared with August, largely the result of higher prices for primary metal products and petroleum and coal products. The Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) rose 1.3% in September, mainly because of higher prices for non-ferrous metals.
Prices for industrial goods increase
Chart description: Prices for industrial goods increase
Industrial Product Price Index, monthly change
After posting declines for four months, the IPPI increased 0.5% in September, its largest gain since September 2011.
The main contributor to the IPPI increase in September was primary metal products (+5.1%), mainly a result of higher prices for other non-ferrous metal products (+10.4%), copper and copper alloy products (+9.5%) and aluminum products (+5.3%). The rise in metals was partly a result of higher demand.
Petroleum and coal products (+2.7%) also made an important contribution to the IPPI increase in September. Higher prices for fuel oils and other fuels as well as gasoline were the main reasons for this increase. The IPPI excluding petroleum and coal products rose 0.2% in September.
The IPPI advance was moderated primarily by motor vehicles and other transportation equipment (-0.8%). The increase in the value of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar in September was largely responsible for this decline.
Most Canadian producers who export their products are paid in US dollars. Consequently, the 1.4% increase in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar in September had the effect of reducing the corresponding prices in Canadian dollars.
Chemical products, lumber and other wood products as well as pulp and paper products further moderated the increase of the IPPI.
Industrial Product Price Index, 12-month change
Compared with September 2011, the IPPI was down 0.3%, the second consecutive year-over-year decrease.
The IPPI was mainly driven down by primary metal products (-6.5%), particularly by lower prices for other non-ferrous metal products (-9.2%), aluminum products (-10.7%) and nickel products (-18.2%).
Chemical products (-3.6%), motor vehicles and other transportation equipment (-1.2%) and pulp and paper products (-2.1%) also contributed to the year-over-year decline of the IPPI.
The 2.5% year-over-year increase in the value of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar was mainly responsible for lower prices of motor vehicles and other transportation equipment.
Compared with September 2011, the IPPI decline was moderated by petroleum and coal products (+2.7%), mainly as a result of higher prices for gasoline (+5.1%). Among the other commodity groups that posted gains were lumber and other wood products and fruit, vegetable, feeds and other food products.
The IPPI excluding petroleum and coal products was down 0.7%, year over year.
Raw Materials Price Index, monthly change
The RMPI rose 1.3% in September, the third consecutive monthly increase.
Prices for raw materials increase
Chart description: Prices for raw materials increase
The advance of the RMPI was largely attributable to non-ferrous metals (+8.8%), specifically copper concentrates (+14.2%), non-ferrous metal scrap (+8.5%) and precious metals (+8.4%).
After declining for six months, non-ferrous metals posted its largest gain since April 2009.
Compared with previous months, mineral fuels (+0.9%) made a modest contribution to the increase of the RMPI in September. Higher prices for crude oil were entirely responsible for the increase, which was nevertheless moderate as supply was sufficient to satisfy demand.
The advance of the RMPI in September was slightly moderated by lower prices for animals and animal products, vegetable products and wood products.
The RMPI excluding mineral fuels rose 1.7% in September.
Raw Materials Price Index, 12-month change
Compared with September 2011, the RMPI was down 3.9%, the seventh consecutive year-over-year decrease.
The decline of the RMPI was mostly the result of mineral fuels (-5.5%), specifically crude oil. Compared with September 2011, the RMPI excluding mineral fuels decreased 2.5%.
Non-ferrous metals (-6.2%) also contributed significantly to the year-over-year decline of the RMPI, as prices were down for copper and nickel concentrates, other non-ferrous base metals and radioactive concentrates.
Compared with September 2011, the decline of the RMPI was slightly moderated by wood products (+6.7%), largely as a result of higher prices for logs and bolts.
Note to readers
All data in this release are seasonally unadjusted and usually subject to revision for a period of six months (for example, when the July index is released, the index for the previous January becomes final).
The Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) reflects the prices that producers in Canada receive as the goods leave the plant gate. It does not reflect what the consumer pays. Unlike the Consumer Price Index, the IPPI excludes indirect taxes and all the costs that occur between the time a good leaves the plant and the time the final user takes possession of it, including transportation, wholesale and retail costs.
Canadian producers export many goods. They often indicate their prices in foreign currencies, especially US dollars, which are then converted into Canadian dollars. In particular, this is the case for motor vehicles, pulp, paper and wood products. Therefore, a rise or fall in the value of the Canadian dollar against its US counterpart affects the IPPI. But the conversion into Canadian dollars only reflects how respondents provide their prices. Moreover, this is not a measure that takes into account the full effect of exchange rates, since that is a more difficult analytical task.
The conversion of prices received in US dollars is based on the average monthly exchange rate (noon spot rate) established by the Bank of Canada and is available on CANSIM in table 176-0064 (series v37426). Monthly and annual variations in the exchange rate, as described in the release, are calculated according to the indirect quotation of the exchange rate (for example, CAN$1 = US$X).
The Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) reflects the prices paid by Canadian manufacturers for key raw materials. Many of those prices are set on the world market. However, as few prices are denominated in foreign currencies, their conversion into Canadian dollars has only a minor effect on the calculation of the RMPI.
Available without charge in CANSIM: tables CANSIM table329-0056 to 329-0068 and CANSIM table330-0007.
Table CANSIM table329-0056: Industry price indexes by major commodity aggregations.
Table CANSIM table329-0057: Industry price indexes by industry.
Table CANSIM table329-0058: Industry price indexes by stage of processing.
Tables CANSIM table329-0059 to 329-0068: Industry price indexes by commodity.
Table CANSIM table330-0007: Raw materials price indexes by commodity.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers survey number2306 and survey number2318.
The September 2012 issue of Industry Price Indexes (Catalogue number62-011-X, free) will soon be available.
The industrial product and raw materials price indexes for October will be released on November 29.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@canada.ca).
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