The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for August 2020 (the most recent data available) increased by a small margin compared to the previous month’s value. It was the second straight increase after a three-month period of declining values. Increases in two of the four major subindices — namely Construction Labor and Buildings — offset very small decreases in the Equipment and Engineering & Supervision subindexes to arrive at the overall higher CEPCI value, which now sits at 1.3% lower than the corresponding value from August of last year. Meanwhile, the Current Business Indicators (CBI) showed a relatively stable CPI Output Index and CPI Operating Rate for September, each rising slightly.
2020 CEPCI Updates: August (prelim.) and July (final)
| By Scott Jenkins