Canada's industrial product price index increased 0.3 percent in November, according to Statistics Canada. Of the 21 major commodity groups, 14 were up, two were down and five were unchanged.
The rise in the IPPI in November was mainly attributable to higher prices for motorized and recreational vehicles (+1.1 percent) and primary non-ferrous metal products (+2.3 percent).
Within motorized and recreational vehicles, price gains were reported for passenger cars and light trucks (+1 percent), motor vehicle engines and motor vehicle parts (+0.7 percent) as well as aircraft (+1.5 percent). Higher prices for motorized and recreational vehicles were closely linked to the depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar.
Price increases for primary non-ferrous metal products were widespread in November, led by higher prices for unwrought copper and copper alloys (+16.7 percent). Other unwrought non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (+3.4 percent) also increased, particularly unwrought lead and lead alloys (+8.3 percent) as well as unwrought tin and tin alloys (+6.7 percent). Unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys rose 3.4 percent.
Chemicals and chemical products (+0.9 percent) rose for a third straight month, led by higher prices for petrochemicals (+3.2 percent) and plastic resins (+2.1 percent).
Fruit, vegetables, feed and other food products rose 0.4 percent, primarily due to price increases for intermediate food products (+1.9 percent), specifically flour and other grain mill products (+2.4 percent) as well as grain and oilseed products, not elsewhere classified (+0.7 percent).
Moderating the rise in the IPPI in November were lower prices for energy and petroleum products, which fell 2.2 percent after rising 5 percent the previous month. Motor gasoline prices fell 5.5 percent. Jet fuel (-3.5 percent), asphalt (other than natural) and asphalt products (-1.3 percent) and light fuel oils (-0.4 percent) also recorded price declines. The IPPI excluding energy and petroleum products rose 0.6 percent in November.
Prices for meat, fish and dairy products (-0.3 percent) edged down in November. This was almost entirely due to lower prices for fresh and frozen pork (-1.2 percent) and fresh and frozen poultry of all types (-1.2 percent).
Some IPPI prices are reported in U.S. dollars and are converted to Canadian dollars using the average monthly exchange rate. Consequently, any change in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the level of the index. From October to November, the Canadian dollar depreciated 1.4 percent relative to the U.S. dollar. If the exchange rate had remained constant, the IPPI would have decreased 0.1 percent instead of rising 0.3 percent.
The IPPI rose 1.4 percent during the 12-month period ending in November, following a 0.8 percent increase in October.
Compared with November 2015, the increase in the IPPI was largely attributable to higher prices for primary non-ferrous metal products (+12 percent), which posted their largest year-over-year gain since September 2011. The increase in this commodity group was driven by unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys (+14.4 percent) and other unwrought non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (+28.3 percent).
Fruit, vegetables, feed and other food products (+2 percent) also contributed to the year-over-year increase in the IPPI, but to a lesser extent. Higher prices for grain and oilseed products, not elsewhere classified (+6.1 percent), confectionery products (+6.1 percent), and breads, rolls and flatbreads (+4.2 percent) were the main drivers for the increase in this commodity group.
The year-over-year advance in the IPPI was moderated mainly by lower prices for meat, fish and dairy products (-2.2 percent), particularly fresh and frozen beef and veal (-12.5 percent) and, to a lesser extent, fresh and frozen pork (-2.6 percent). On a year-over-year basis, meat, fish and dairy product prices have been falling since May 2016.
The increase in the IPPI was also offset by lower prices for energy and petroleum products (-1.1 percent), specifically asphalt (other than natural) and asphalt products (-7.5 percent), lubricants and other refined petroleum products (-3.5 percent) and motor gasoline (-3.7 percent). The IPPI excluding energy and petroleum products rose 1.7 percent compared with the same month last year.
Raw Materials Price Index
The RMPI decreased by 2 percent in November following a 3.3 percent increase in October. Of the six major commodity groups, two were up, three were down and one was unchanged.
The decrease in the RMPI was mainly due to lower prices for crude energy products (-6.9 percent), specifically conventional crude oil (-7.4 percent). This was the first decline in conventional crude oil since July 2016 (-8.7 percent). The RMPI excluding crude energy products rose 1.7 percent.
Higher prices for metal ores, concentrates and scrap (+4 percent) moderated the decline.
Prices also rose for crop products (+2.4 percent). Fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables (+3.8 percent), canola (including rapeseed) (+4.9 percent) and wheat (+2 percent) rose in November.
The RMPI increased 4.1 percent over the 12-month period ending in November, following a 1.5 percent gain in October.
The advance in the RMPI was primarily driven by higher prices for metal ores, concentrates and scrap (+14.7 percent), which posted their largest year-over-year increase since August 2011.
Crude energy products (+6.6 percent), especially conventional crude oil (+6.6 percent), also significantly contributed to year-over-year increase in the RMPI. The RMPI excluding crude energy products rose 2.3 percent year over year.
The year-over-year increase in the RMPI was offset mainly by animals and animal products (-8.7 percent), led by lower prices for cattle and calves (-18.9 percent) as well as hogs (-21.9 percent).
