🟢 Monthly
417.588
+7.5% YoY PPI plumbing fixtures, fittings & trim
What plumbers pay for fixtures sets the markup basis on every installation job.
The Numbers
Live indicators for Plumbers.news.
Monthly · IMF/CME via FRED
$6.15/lb
+37.8% YoY Copper price
Copper pipe and fittings are the core material cost that sets every quote.
🟢 Monthly
456.939
+3.8% YoY PPI plastic pipe & fittings (PVC/PEX)
PVC and PEX are the other half of material cost, completing the picture on every bid.
🟢 Monthly
1,374K SAAR
−1.8% YoY Building permits (total residential)
Permits authorized translate directly into new-construction rough-in jobs.
🟢 Monthly
4.09M SAAR
+2.8% YoY Existing-home sales
Home sales trigger plumbing inspections, water-heater replacements, and upgrades.
🟡 Quarterly
~+2.1% YoY
Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA)
Remodel and repair work is the bread-and-butter of most plumbing businesses.
🟢 Annual
$30.67/hr
Plumber wages (OEWS 47-2152)
The biggest line item in any bid, setting the floor on competitive service pricing.
Updated Aug 8, 2026, 9:01 AM UTC