Industrial product and raw materials price indexes, May 2016
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Released: 2016-06-30
May 2016
1.1% 
(monthly change)
May 2016
0.5%
(monthly change)
May 2016
6.7%
(monthly change)
May 2016
1.4%
(monthly change)
The Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) increased 1.1% in May, mainly due to higher prices for energy and petroleum products. The Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) rose 6.7%, led by a gain in prices for crude energy products.
Chart 1
Prices for industrial goods increase
Industrial Product Price Index, monthly change
The IPPI rose 1.1% in May, following a 0.5% decline in April. This was the largest monthly gain since February 2015, when prices grew 1.9%. Of the 21 major commodity groups, 16 were up, 2 were down, and 3 were unchanged.
The increase in the IPPI in May was mainly attributable to higher prices for energy and petroleum products (+6.3%), specifically motor gasoline (+6.4%), diesel fuel (+7.8%) and light fuel oils (+8.2%). Unplanned domestic and international supply disruptions exerted upward pressure on the price of conventional crude oil, resulting in higher prices for refined petroleum products. The IPPI excluding energy and petroleum products rose 0.5% in May.
Also contributing to the increase in the IPPI were higher prices for primary non-ferrous metal products (+1.6%), led by unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys (+3.1%), and unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (+2.2%).
Prices for motorized and recreational vehicles (+0.7%) increased in May, led by gains in passenger cars and light trucks (+0.6%), motor vehicle engines and motor vehicle parts (+0.5%), and aircraft (+1.1%). Higher prices for motorized and recreational vehicles were closely linked to the depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar.
Prices for chemicals and chemical products (+1.3%) posted their largest increase since July 2015. Higher prices for petrochemicals (+6.9%) and, to a lesser extent, other basic inorganic chemicals (+2.5%) contributed to the rise.
Higher prices for fruit, vegetables, feed and other food products (+0.6%) also contributed to the increase in the IPPI. The gain was led by other animal feed (+3.6%) and, to a lesser extent, flour mixes, dough and dry pasta (+1.5%), and cookies, crackers, and baked sweet goods (+0.2%).
Slightly moderating the rise in the IPPI were lower prices for meat, fish, and dairy products (-0.7%), specifically fresh and frozen beef and veal (-4.0%), while higher prices for fresh and frozen pork (+1.5%) partly offset the decline.
Some IPPI prices are reported in US dollars and are converted to Canadian dollars using the average monthly exchange rate. Consequently, any change in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar will affect the level of the index. From April to May, the Canadian dollar depreciated 1.0% relative to the US dollar. If the exchange rate had remained constant, the IPPI would have increased 0.9% instead of rising 1.1%.
Industrial Product Price Index, 12-month change
The IPPI declined 1.1% over the 12-month period ending in May, after falling 1.6% in April.
Year over year, the decrease in the IPPI was mainly attributable to lower prices for energy and petroleum products (-12.7%). Motor gasoline (-8.7%), light fuel oils (-14.6%), diesel fuel (-15.1%) and heavy fuel oils (-30.2%) contributed to the decline in prices for energy and petroleum products. The IPPI excluding energy and petroleum products increased 0.8% from the same month last year.
Lower prices for primary ferrous metal products (-9.5%) and primary non-ferrous metal products (-3.3%) also contributed to the year-over-year decrease in the IPPI.
Lower prices for iron and steel basic shapes (-13.4%), and iron and steel pipes and tubes (except castings) (-14.3%) were the main reasons for the decline in primary ferrous metal products. The decrease in primary non-ferrous metal products was led by unwrought copper and copper alloys (-20.8%), unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (-8.3%), and other unwrought non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (-9.0%). Moderating the fall in primary non-ferrous metal products were higher prices for unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys (+6.4%).
Also contributing to the year-over-year decline in the IPPI were lower prices for chemicals and chemical products (-2.0%), specifically petrochemicals (-10.0%) and plastic resins (-6.8%).
Moderating the year-over-year decrease in the IPPI were higher prices for motorized and recreational vehicles (+4.0%), specifically passenger cars and light trucks (+4.4%) and aircraft (+6.8%).
Raw Materials Price Index, monthly change
The RMPI rose 6.7% in May, after increasing 0.7% in April. All of the six major commodity groups posted increases.
Chart 2
Prices for raw materials rise
The gain in the RMPI was mainly attributable to higher prices for crude energy products (+15.7%), specifically conventional crude oil (+16.9%). The RMPI excluding crude energy products increased 1.4% in May.
Prices for animals and animal products rose 2.5% in May, mainly due to higher prices for hogs (+13.7%), while lower prices for cattle and calves (-1.2%) moderated the gain.
Crop products (+1.4%) also increased in May, led by higher prices for grains (except wheat) (+1.8%), other miscellaneous crop products (+2.9%) and canola (including rapeseed) (+4.9%).
Raw Materials Price Index, 12-month change
The RMPI declined 10.6% over the 12-month period ending in May.
Lower prices for crude energy products (-17.7%), specifically conventional crude oil (-18.1%), were largely responsible for the decrease. The RMPI excluding crude energy products fell 5.0%.
To a lesser extent, lower prices for animals and animal products (-7.8%) also contributed to the year-over-year decline in the RMPI. The decrease in this commodity group was led by lower prices for cattle and calves (-24.4%).
Note to readers
The Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) and Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) are available at the Canada level only. Selected commodity groups within the IPPI are also available by region.
With each release, data for the previous six months may have been revised. The indexes are not seasonally adjusted.
The Industrial Product Price Index 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 in 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. However, the conversion into Canadian dollars only reflects how respondents provide their prices. This is not a measure that takes the full effect of exchange rates into account.
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 it is available in CANSIM 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 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.
Infographic: Producer Price Indexes at a Glance
The infographic "Producer Price Indexes at a Glance," which is part of Statistics Canada — Infographics (11-627-M), is available. This infographic demonstrates how producer price indexes for goods and services are calculated and why they are important for the Canadian economy.
Real-time CANSIM tables
Real-time CANSIM table 329-8074 will be updated on July 7. For more information, consult the document Real-time CANSIM tables.
Next release
The industrial product and raw materials price indexes for June will be released on July 29.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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