Market Data

Other Agricultural Chemicals PPI: Comparing Price Series Without Inventing a Cost Spread

Other Agricultural Chemicals, down about 5.1% from a year ago. WPU0653 measures other agricultural chemicals. This page previously mislabeled it as industrial gases. It contains no industrial-gas price observation and must not be used to price oxygen, argon, nitrogen, hydrogen or a welding-gas mixture.

The BLS Other Agricultural Chemicals Producer Price Index (WPU0653) reads 208.53 index (1982=100) for Aug 2026, down about 5.1% from a year ago. The reference period identifies the observation; a later website refresh does not turn it into a daily price. This is a producer price index, not a delivered quote in dollars per unit.

WPU0653 measures other agricultural chemicals. This page previously mislabeled it as industrial gases. It contains no industrial-gas price observation and must not be used to price oxygen, argon, nitrogen, hydrogen or a welding-gas mixture.

Compare changes, product definitions and periods

This agricultural chemical price series is not a manufacturing activity gauge, a welding-cost benchmark or a measure of industrial-gas demand. Its direction cannot support any of those conclusions.

Put each source's definition, reference month and units beside its value. Percentage changes within each series can be compared descriptively when the periods match. The difference between those growth rates is measured in percentage points; it is not a supplier margin or a dollar amount.

The evidence needed for a cost explanation

For a relevant agricultural chemical purchase, compare the specified formulation, concentration, packaging, handling and contract terms. For welding gas, use an actual gas supplier quote and measured consumption, including cylinder rental or bulk delivery charges where applicable.

A conversion-cost analysis requires quantities, actual purchased input prices, process yield, energy use, labor and overhead for the relevant operation. Aggregate product PPIs do not contain that cost stack. Use them to formulate a question for a supplier, then test it against transaction and production records.

Source and update notes

The source is BLS series WPU0653, also published by FRED at https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WPU0653. The linked data page provides the current observation and available history. A successful refresh changes readings only when the source returns changed data. Missing or failed observations must retain their original periods and be reported as unavailable or delayed.

Published 2026-08-06.