The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported wholesale inflation prices in April rose 11% from April 2021. The pace slowed slightly from the 11.5% year-over-year increase reported in March, the highest increase on record.
The biggest RV industry concern remains transportation and warehousing services pricing.
Transportation and warehousing costs continued to climb in April, BLS reported. Prices rose a revised 5.7% in March (up from a previously reported 5.5%). The price increase slowed to 3.6% in April, still the second-highest monthly increase in the past year.
Again, BLS data found the supply-chain inflation rising throughout. The pricing index for stage four intermediate demand – products purchased by industries primarily producing output sold to final demand, such as RV manufacturers – rose 11.7% in April from April 2021.
Prices rose more in stage three intermediate demand, measuring inflation among suppliers to industries such as RV manufacturers. Stage three prices rose 19.1% year-over-year in April. Stage two prices, measuring suppliers to stage three suppliers, rose 23.5% year-over-year.
Stage one intermediate demand rose 16.8% year-over-year. Although the pricing is lower than other supply-chain tier, stage one prices rose from a 16.4% monthly increase in March.
