Plastics Labor Statistics

In 1994 in the U.S., recycled PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PS had a 16—46% cost advantage (4). This cost advantage largely disappeared by 1996. Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate U.S. plastics prices in mid-1997 are seven percent below those of mid-1995 after being more than ten percent less in 1996... 

There are three major sources of chemical statistics United States Tariff Commission, for productions and sales statistics on organic chemicals and plastic materials Bureau of the Census, for production and shipments of inorganic chemicals and Bureau of Mines, for coal chemicals. Selected chemicals are reported on a monthly basis, while hundreds are covered annually. Other sources of chemical statistics are such agencies as the Alcohol Tax Unit, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. The publications of these agencies are discussed in this paper. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports monthly prices for chemicals in its wholesale price index series. The chemicals and allied products group is made up of chemicals, drug and pharmaceutical materials, fertilizer and mixed fertilizer materials, and oils and fats. The bureau has announced a revision of its wholesale price index beginning with January 1952 prices. The January report contains figures on the revised basis back to January 1947, with the revised series linked to that early month. In the revised index, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is using the 1947 to 1949 period as representing 100 instead of 1926 as had been the case. For the first time, plastics will be included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics wholesale price index. Other important items developed during or since the end of World War II are included in the new index. 

Natural gas is the fuel of choice for a wide range of industries (USEIA, 2002). It is a major fuel source for pulp and paper, metals, chemicals, petroleum refining, and food processing. These five industries alone accoimt for almost three quarters of industrial natural gas use and together employ 4 million people in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2007). Natural gas is also a feedstock for a variety of products, including plastics, chemicals, and fertilizers. Industrial use of natural gas accounted for 6.63 Tcf of demand in 2007 and was expected to grow to 6.82 Tcf by 2010. It is interesting to note that for many products, there is no economically viable substitute for natural gas. 

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