The Perc Report includes monthly highlights on the most up-to-date plastics industry economic data, along with recent activities, articles, and blogs which you may have missed.
Starting this month, the Perc Report will include the new Plastics Demand Estimate. The new report is essential for those seeking to understand the plastics industry, and includes monthly & year-over-year changes in dollar value.
The U.S. economy grew by 2.8% in Q2. Consumer spending rose by 2.6%, with durable goods up 4.7%, nondurable goods up 1.4%, and services consumption rising 2.2%.
Business investment spending on industrial equipment fell by 3.2% in Q2 after a 12.8% rise in Q1.
The Federal Reserve maintained the benchmark interest rate at 5.25% - 5.50%, citing a strong labor market and high inflation amid economic growth.
Housing starts rose 3.0% in June, totaling 1.35 million, after a 4.6% decrease in May.
Aerospace manufacturing increased 0.8% in June, marking a 3.6% year-over-year increase and the fourth consecutive month of growth.
Plastics demand increased by 1.4% in May, month-over-month and 3.5% year-over-year. Monthly estimates of plastics product demand, provided by PLASTICS, can be downloaded here.
The capacity utilization rate in plastics and rubber products manufacturing fell to 74.9% in June, down from 78.5% last June.
The unemployment rate in plastics and rubber products manufacturing rose to 5.2% in June from 0.4% in May.
Exports of molds for plastics decreased by 2.6% in May but were 18.0% higher than last year. Imports rose by 1.6% in May but were down 24.0% from a year earlier.
The Industrial Production Index for resin, synthetic rubber, and artificial and synthetic fibers rose for the second consecutive month by 1.1% in June after a 2.5% increase in May.
The Producer Price Index on plastics bottle manufacturing was up 0.17% in June month-over-month but decreased 0.21% year-over-year.
Our latest industry data covers the medical industry end-market. New data on the automotive, consumer goods, and construction markets to be released in the coming week.
