The Perc Report includes monthly highlights on the most recent economic and plastics industry data along with recent activities, articles, and blogs which you may have missed.
Retail sales rose 0.2% in February and 3.1% year-over-year. January sales were revised to a 1.2% decline.
The Federal Reserve's median GDP forecast was revised down to 1.7% in March, from 2.1% in December.
The Industrial Production Index for construction supplies rose 1.0% in February, following a 0.6% decline in January, and was up 0.7% year-over-year.
Housing starts rebounded 11.2% in February after an 11.5% drop in January but were still 2.9% lower year-over-year.
The 90-day AA nonfinancial commercial paper rate was 4.27% on March 14, 2025, down from 5.32% on March 15, 2024.
U.S. plastics demand was estimated at $22.1 billion in January, unchanged from December, but lower by 2.4% from a year earlier.
You can access the most recent Plastics Demand Estimate here link: here.
Unemployment in plastics and rubber products manufacturing fell from 8.2% in January to 2.9% in February, confirming January’s surge was temporary.
The Industrial Production Index for plastic products manufacturing edged up 0.1% after a 1.1% decline in February.
The Producer Price Index for plastic materials and resin fell 0.5% in February after a 0.4% rise in January.
Total motor vehicle assemblies, a key plastics demand indicator, rose to 10.3 million units in February (annualized), surpassing the 10.0-million-unit threshold typical of normal economic conditions.
The Industrial Production Index for communication and energy wires and cables fell 1.7% in February after a 1.8% rise in January. It was up 0.9% year-over-year in February.
The latest Molds trade report for January 2025 is now available on the PLASTICS website. Imports and exports of plastics molds for semiconductor manufacturing grew significantly compared to a year prior.
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:
