About & Methodology

SignCost Index tracks what sign materials cost and when suppliers raise prices, so estimators and buyers can quote with current numbers.

Who runs it

SignCost Index is run by a sign-industry operator with a background in national sign rollouts, logistics and sourcing.

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Data sources

• Price indexes: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Indexes and the IMF global aluminum price, downloaded from FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis).
• Supplier notices: public price-increase posts, letters and distributor notices. Current sources: apcink.com, cameronashleybp.com, cut-print.de, hub.geminimade.com, imageprointernational.com, luzar.de, master-distribution.com, midwestsignsupplyco.com, restylersinternational.com, signworldamerica.com, trinseo.com.
• Tariffs: Federal Register, CBP bulletins and news coverage, linked on each entry.

How we record notices

• The % is recorded as the source states it. Ranges stay ranges. If no % is given we show "not stated" and never estimate one.
• "Announced" is the date of the notice or post. Where a distributor post only has a title, the % and dates come from that title.
• European distributor prices are tagged EU; US pricing may differ.

Index series

• WPU102501: Aluminum mill shapes (commodity PPI). Index 1982=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• WPU1025: Nonferrous mill shapes (commodity PPI). Index 1982=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU331318331318: Other aluminum rolling, drawing, and extruding (industry PPI). Index Dec 1981=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU331315331315: Aluminum sheet, plate, and foil manufacturing (industry PPI) - DISCONTINUED after Jan 2025. Index Jun 1981=100. Latest Jan 2025.
• PALUMUSDM: Global price of aluminum (IMF). USD per metric ton. Latest Jul 2026.
• WPU066: Plastic resins and materials (commodity PPI). Index 1982=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• WPU0662: Thermoplastic resins and plastics materials (commodity PPI). Index 1982=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU325211325211: Plastics material and resin manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Dec 1980=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU326113326113: Nonpackaging plastics film and sheet manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Jun 1993=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU326130326130: Laminated plastics plate, sheet (except packaging), and shape mfg (industry PPI). Index Jun 1993=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU3351333513: Electric lighting equipment manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Dec 2022=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU335122335122: Nonresidential electric lighting fixture manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Jun 1981=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU334413334413: Semiconductor and related device manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Dec 1998=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU335311335311: Electric power and specialty transformer manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Jun 1981=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU325910325910: Printing ink manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Jun 1984=100. Latest Sep 2026.
• PCU339950339950: Sign manufacturing (industry PPI). Index Dec 1985=100. Latest Sep 2026.

Corrections

Found an error or have a price letter we missed? Corrections are logged and fixed in the next weekly update.

Last rebuilt Oct 19, 2026.