Jason Sandefur

Over three out of four fastener companies raised prices an average of 7.7% in 2006, up from the 71% who scored prices increases averaging 11.5% in 2005. More than 92% of fastener firms declared price gains in 2004.
No survey respondent reported price reductions in 2006, while nearly 20% claimed prices flatlined.
Roughly the same percentage of companies have no plans for price hikes in the next six months, while 62.3% intend to increase prices an average of 5.5%. An additional 19.7% of respondents remain undecided about changes to their pricing structure.
More than 72% of distributors achieved average price hikes of 7.1% in 2006, while an additional 20.7% saw prices remain stable.
Nearly 78% of manufacturers increases prices an average of 8.1% in 2006, while 22.2% kept prices unchanged.
A slim majority 51.7% of distributors committed to boost prices an average of 5.2% in the first six months of 2007, while 24.1% planned no changes and another 24.1% remained undecided.
More than seven in 10 manufacturers plan average price hikes of 5.6% in the next six months, while 14.8% don”t foresee any increase and an additional 14.8% are still mulling the issue. \ �2007 FastenerNews.com