Asia Manufacturing Costs Rose Higher in the First Quarter of 2022
Manufacturing costs trended sharply upward in the first quarter of 2022. Most grades of Plastics, Steel, Alum, Metals, Wood, Textiles, Ceramics increased along with costs for Fuel, and Currency. Only Rubber and Paper decreased in the quarter along with Freight costs which declined 4.8% from elevated levels in most of 2021. The cost of Labor was flat in most Asian countries but rose sharply in