§1The reading
The BLS wood pallet PPI (WPU084101) was 337.348 in July 2025, unchanged on the month and up 0.5% on the year.
Over three months the index moved +0.4%.
It was the highest reading since June 2024.
Across the five years to July 2025, the index ranged from 282.0 (August 2020) to 444.2 (April 2022).
Lumber (WPU081) was +6.8% on the year, softwood +7.7% and hardwood +5.6%; lumber ran 6.3 points ahead of pallets over twelve months.
The industry-basis index for wood container and pallet manufacturing (PCU321920321920) was +1.6% on the year.
U.S. retail diesel averaged $3.778 a gallon over the month (EIA, 4 weekly readings), −0.8% on a year earlier.
These notes are generated from the published figures, not written by an analyst. The method is on the methodology page.
§2All eight series for July 2025
| Series | Base | Index | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood pallets WPU084101 | 1982 = 100 | 337.348 | +0.0% | +0.5% |
| Pallets incl. wood/metal combination WPU0841 | 1982 = 100 | 337.348 | +0.0% | +0.5% |
| Wood container & pallet mfg (industry) PCU321920321920 | Dec 2003 = 100 | 181.845 | +0.1% | +1.6% |
| Pallets, industry basis PCU3219203219205 | Dec 2003 = 100 | 186.521 | +0.0% | +0.5% |
| Industry primary products PCU321920321920P | Dec 2003 = 100 | 175.220 | +0.1% | +1.3% |
| Lumber WPU081 | 1982 = 100 | 264.248 | −0.9% | +6.8% |
| Softwood lumber WPU0811 | 1982 = 100 | 261.368 | −1.9% | +7.7% |
| Hardwood lumber WPU0812 | 1982 = 100 | 279.887 | +0.6% | +5.6% |
p = preliminary. BLS revises the latest four months.
§3What it means for an index clause
A pallet bought at $10.00 twelve months earlier, escalated in full with this index, would be $10.05 in July 2025. Method: $10.00 × (index in July 2025 ÷ index twelve months before). Most clauses only move the price when the change passes a band, and some pass through only part of it.
Under the model clause's quarterly review, July 2025 is not a review month: the next review, on 1 October 2025, uses the August 2025 reading. A monthly-review contract would use this reading directly.
Run your own numbers with the escalator, or read the model escalator clause.
§4Freight context
U.S. retail on-highway diesel averaged $3.778 a gallon across 4 weekly EIA readings in July 2025 (−0.8% on a year earlier). Delivery charges and fuel surcharges are separate from the producer index, so price them as their own lines in the bid-leveling sheet.