Economic Indicators

2021 2022 2023

Download the CEPCI two weeks sooner at www.chemengonline.com/pci
950

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PLANT COST INDEX (CEPCI) 900

(1957–59 = 100) May ’23 Apr. ’23 May ’22 Annual Index: 850
Prelim. Final Final
2015 = 556.8
CE Index_______________________________________________ 809.4 803.3 831.1 800
Equipment _____________________________________________ 1,022.0 1,014.3 1,056.4 2016 = 541.7
Heat exchangers & tanks __________________________________ 841.6 832.8 898.9
Process machinery ______________________________________ 1,033.8 1,041.8 1,075.3 2017 = 567.5 750

Pipe, valves & fittings _____________________________________ 1,400.7 1,397.5 1,494.7 2018 = 603.1
Process instruments _____________________________________ 564.9 567.2 575.0 700
Pumps & compressors ____________________________________ 1,448.0 1,387.9 1,273.3 2019 = 607.5
Electrical equipment _____________________________________ 796.7 796.5 756.6 2020 = 596.2 650
Structural supports & misc. ________________________________ 1,147.6 1,128.3 1,177.7
Construction labor ________________________________________ 365.6 362.9 354.3 2021 = 708.8
Buildings ______________________________________________ 817.9 808.5 847.4 2022 = 816.0 600
Engineering & supervision __________________________________ 313.9 313.8 311.5
Starting in April 2007, several data series for labor and compressors were converted to accommodate series IDs discontinued by the 550
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Starting in March 2018, the data series for chemical industry special machinery was replaced
because the series was discontinued by BLS (see Chem. Eng., April 2018, p. 76–77.)
500
J F M A M J J A S O N D

CURRENT BUSINESS INDICATORS LATEST PREVIOUS YEAR AGO

CPI output index (2017 = 100)_____________________________________________________ May '23 = 99.8 Apr. '23 = 99.8 Mar. '23 = 99.4 Apr. '22 = 101.2
CPI value of output, $ billions _____________________________________________________ Apr. '23 = 2,361.3 Mar. '23 = 2,360.3 Feb. '23 = 2,421.0 Mar. '22 = 2,478.1
CPI operating rate, % ___________________________________________________________ May '23 = 79.7 Apr. '23 = 79.8 Mar. '23 = 79.5 Apr. '22 = 81.8
Producer prices, industrial chemicals (1982 = 100) _____________________________________ May '23 = 323.2 Apr. '23 = 328.6 Mar. '23 = 326.7 Apr. '22 = 374.2
Industrial Production in Manufacturing (2017 =100)* ____________________________________ May '23 = 100.1 Apr. '23 = 100.0 Mar. '23 = 99.1 Apr. '22 = 100.4
Hourly earnings index, chemical & allied products (1992 = 100) _____________________________ Apr. '23 = 219.8 Mar. '23 = 216.9 Feb. '23 = 210.7 Mar. '22 = 200.6
Productivity index, chemicals & allied products (1992 = 100)_______________________________ May '23 = 91.7 Apr. '23 = 91.6 Mar. '23 = 92.5 Apr. '22 = 91.6

CPI OUTPUT INDEX (2017

(2000 = 100)† CPI OUTPUT VALUE ($ BILLIONS) CPI OPERATING RATE (%)
110 2400 85

105
2300 80
100
2200
95 75
2100
90
70
2000
85
65
80 1900

75 1800 60
J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D

*Due to discontinuance, the Index of Industrial Activity has been replaced by the Industrial Production in Manufacturing index from the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.
†For the current month’s CPI output index values, the base year was changed from 2012 to 2017
Current business indicators provided by Global Insight, Inc., Lexington, Mass.

CURRENT TRENDS

T he preliminary value for the CE Plant

Cost Index (CEPCI; top) for May

EXCLUSIVE AD SPACE AVAILABLE! 2023 (most recent available) is higher

than the previous month’s value. The
Feature your marketing message alongside this popular editorial department
rise is the second consecutive inc-
crease. In May, upticks were observed
Each issue includes editorial departments that feature the current industry trends and
in all four subindices — Equipment,
the Plant Cost Index. As one of the most valued sections in the magazine, your ad is Buildings, Construction Labor and En-
guaranteed to reach decision makers each month. Ad runs opposite Cover 3 within gineering & Supervision. The current
the Economic Indicators department. CEPCI value now sits at 2.6% lower
than the corresponding value from May
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2022. Meanwhile, the Current Business
Indicators (middle) show no change
in the CPI output index for May, and
JASON BULLOCK TERRY DAVIS PETRA TRAUTES
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
a slight decrease in the CPI operating
713-974-0911 404-634-5123 +49 69 58604760 rate for May, as well as a small increase
27206 in the CPI value of output for April 2023.
Also, producer prices for industrial
chemicals fell in May.

52 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM AUGUST 2023