Market Data
Paper PPI: What the Index Measures
Paper, up about 10.0% from a year ago. Paper is the source's product category. It is not a paperboard, corrugated container or finished packaging index. Earlier descriptions on these URLs overstated that scope.
The BLS Paper Producer Price Index (WPU0913) reads 282.27 index (1982=100) for Aug 2026, up about 10.0% 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.
Paper is the source's product category. It is not a paperboard, corrugated container or finished packaging index. Earlier descriptions on these URLs overstated that scope.
Read the definition before the number
For paper procurement, check grade, basis weight, finish, recycled content and contract terms. For boxes or cartons, obtain the appropriate paperboard or container benchmark and supplier specification. Converting, printing, adhesives and delivery require separate cost evidence.
An index describes price movement for its specified basket. It does not say that every product or every supplier moved by the same amount. Distribution, customer mix and the terms of an individual transaction can produce a different invoice result. Keep the agency identifier beside the label so a similar-sounding category is not silently substituted.
Index points and percentage changes
For two observations from the same series, the percentage change is 100 × (new index / old index − 1). A rise from 200 to 210 is 5%, not 10%. Different PPIs can have different bases and product baskets; subtracting their raw levels does not yield a dollar premium.
Changes in paper producer prices do not establish a change in shipping volumes, factory orders or packaging demand. Those questions require quantity or activity observations over matching periods.
Source and update notes
The source is BLS series WPU0913, also published by FRED at https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WPU0913. 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 2026-07-13.