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.
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.
The third quarter ended with 7.4 million job openings, 5.6 million hires, and 5.2 million total separations in September.
The U.S. economy expanded in the third quarter, with real GDP increasing 2.8%, surpassing economists’ forecasts.
North America light-vehicle production decreased by 0.3% year-over-year (Y/Y) in September. Automobile and light truck sales in the U.S. totaled 15.8 million units on a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).
Total private housing starts declined slightly in September, down by 0.5% from August to 1.354 million units, SAAR.
Real personal consumption expenditures on food and beverage for off-premises consumption rose 3.1% in the third quarter, SAAR to $1.17 trillion, marking a 1.6% increase from the third quarter last year.
U.S. plastics demand was estimated at $21.8 billion in August, marking a 2.5% decrease from the revised $22.5 billion estimate in July. Year-over-year, plastics demand decreased by 1.2% in August.
You can access the most recent Plastics Demand Estimate here link: here.
In nondurable goods manufacturing, which includes plastics, there were 155,000 job openings, 147,000 hires, and 146,000 separations in September.
The value of manufacturers’ shipments of plastics and rubber products decreased marginally by 0.3% in August to $24.9 billion, a 0.9% increase from August last year.
The Producer Price Index for unlaminated vinyl and vinyl copolymer film and sheet increased 2.6% Y/Y in September after 14 consecutive months of decline.
Imports of plastics tableware and kitchenware increased by 10.2% year-to-date through August, reaching $2.5 billion compared to the same period last year, marking it the second-largest plastics import for the U.S.
Capacity utilization rate for plastics and rubber products manufacturing continued its monthly decline, reaching 73.4% in September.
Data showing the summer trends in plastics-intensive consumer goods are now posted on the PLASTICS industry data website. The third quarter Recyclable Plastics Materials trade data will be released in the coming week. PLASTICS industry data covers 90 datasets for easy access to members.
As part of our commitment to keeping you informed and up-to-date on the latest industry trends and economic data, I will be speaking at the following events:
Plastics Shipping Container Institute at PACK EXPO | November 6, 2024 | Chicago, IL
