§1The reading
The BLS wood pallet PPI (WPU084101) was 336.965 in December 2025, unchanged on the month and up 1.0% on the year.
Over three months the index moved +0.3%.
It was the lowest reading since October 2025.
Across the five years to December 2025, the index ranged from 292.8 (January 2021) to 444.2 (April 2022).
Lumber (WPU081) was −2.5% on the year, softwood −8.2% and hardwood +6.1%; lumber ran 3.5 points behind pallets over twelve months.
The industry-basis index for wood container and pallet manufacturing (PCU321920321920) was +1.5% on the year.
U.S. retail diesel averaged $3.615 a gallon over the month (EIA, 5 weekly readings), +3.5% 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 December 2025
| Series | Base | Index | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood pallets WPU084101 | 1982 = 100 | 336.965 | −0.0% | +1.0% |
| Pallets incl. wood/metal combination WPU0841 | 1982 = 100 | 336.965 | −0.0% | +1.0% |
| Wood container & pallet mfg (industry) PCU321920321920 | Dec 2003 = 100 | 181.357 | +0.0% | +1.5% |
| Pallets, industry basis PCU3219203219205 | Dec 2003 = 100 | 186.306 | −0.0% | +1.0% |
| Industry primary products PCU321920321920P | Dec 2003 = 100 | 174.734 | −0.0% | +1.5% |
| Lumber WPU081 | 1982 = 100 | 259.127 | −0.1% | −2.5% |
| Softwood lumber WPU0811 | 1982 = 100 | 250.132 | −0.5% | −8.2% |
| Hardwood lumber WPU0812 | 1982 = 100 | 283.733 | +0.4% | +6.1% |
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 $10.10 in December 2025. Method: $10.00 × (index in December 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, December 2025 is not a review month: the next review, on 1 April 2026, uses the February 2026 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 $3.615 a gallon across 5 weekly EIA readings in December 2025 (+3.5% 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.