The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) for September 2019 increased from the previous month’s value by 0.7, reversing a trend of declining values this year. Three of the four major subindices — Equipment, Buildings and Construction Labor — increased, while the Engineering & Supervision subindex dipped slightly. The preliminary September CEPCI value is 2.3% lower than the corresponding value from a year ago. The magnitude of the difference in the year-on-year values increased from the previous month. Meanwhile, the CBI numbers for October 2019 show slight declines in both the CPI Output Index and CPI Operating Rate, and increased Producer Prices.
2019 CEPCI Updates: September (prelim.) and August (final)
| By Scott Jenkins