Market Watch For May 2008: Material Demand

According to the May 2008 ISM Manufacturing Report on Business (ROB) released on June 2, there were 30 commodities that registered higher prices in the last month. New additions to the list included acrylics, additives, phosphoric acid. On its 7-month trek of higher prices, sulfuric acid is also now in short supply, along with steel and caustic soda. Methanol did, however, drop in price for the second straight month.

Commodities Up in Price

Acrylics
Additives
Adhesives
Aluminum (4)
Aluminum Castings
Aluminum Extrusions (3)
Caustic Soda (3)
Chemicals
Copper Laden Products (3)
Copper Wire; Corn (2)
Corn Based Products
Corrugated Containers
Crude Oil
Diesel Fuel (3)
Freight; Fuel Oil #2
Fuel Surcharges (3)
Gasoline (2)
High Density Polyethylene (2)
Natural Gas (7)
Petroleum Based Products
Phosphoric Acid
Plastic Molded Products
Polypropylene (2)
Resins (2)
Scrap Metal
Soybean Oil (2)
Stainless Steel
Steel (5)
Steel Structural
Sulfuric Acid (7)

Commodities Down in Price

Methanol (2)
Zinc

Commodities in Short Supply

Caustic Soda (3)
Steel (2)
Sulfuric Acid

Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.

Source: May 2008 Manufacturing ISM Report on Business

See Also

• Market Watch for April 2008: Material Demand