A government measure tracking price changes for goods and services at the producer level. Subcontractors use it to justify rate increases on long-term contracts when input costs rise. It also supports escalation clause negotiations with operators and prime contractors.
PPI (Producer Price Index)
Related Terms
Job Costing
Cash FlowThe process of tracking all costs associated with a specific job or project, including labor, equipment, materials, and overhead. Accurate job costing is essential for understanding profitability.
Cost-Escalation Clause
Cash FlowA contract provision allowing subcontractors to adjust their rates when material, labour, or fuel costs rise beyond a set threshold. It protects field service companies from absorbing unexpected cost increases on long-term projects. Without one, subcontractors are locked into original pricing regardless of market changes.
Cost-Sharing
Cash FlowAn arrangement where costs for equipment, mobilisation, or resources are split between the contractor and client. Subcontractors should confirm cost-sharing terms in writing before mobilising. Unclear agreements often lead to disputed invoices and delayed payments.
Progress Billing
Cash FlowInvoicing for work completed to date on a longer project, rather than waiting until project completion. Helps subcontractors maintain cash flow on extended jobs.
Loaded Labour Rate
Cash FlowThe true hourly cost of a worker, including wages, benefits, payroll taxes, and overhead. Subcontractors use it to set profitable bill rates for clients. Bidding below your loaded labour rate guarantees a loss on every hour worked.
Lease Bid
Cash FlowA formal pricing submission to secure a contract for equipment, vehicles, or workspace on a lease basis. Subcontractors use lease bids to compete for longer-term site access or equipment rental agreements. Winning a lease bid typically locks in your daily or monthly rate for the contract duration.
Latest Cash Flow News
Dallas Fed Energy Survey: Oil Executives Split on Strait of Hormuz Timeline, Expect Higher Shipping Costs
The Dallas Fed's Q1 Energy Survey received a mid-cycle update focused on Strait of Hormuz disruptions, with executives from nearly 100 oil and gas firms weighing in on timelines, risk, and rising shipping costs from the Persian Gulf.
2 months ago IndustryCiti Forecasts Oil Dropping to $60–$65 by Q1 2027 as Hormuz Flows Normalize
Citi expects oil prices to trend lower over the next six to 12 months, targeting $60 to $65 per barrel by the first quarter of 2027, citing normalizing flows through the Strait of Hormuz following a U.S.-Iran agreement.
26 days ago Industry220-Foot Steel Span Hoisted Into Place on $140M Mississippi River Bridge Rebuild
Kraemer North America completed a 12-hour strand jack lift of a 1.8-million-lb steel center span on the Lansing Bridge reconstruction, a key milestone on the $140M Iowa-Wisconsin crossing project.
28 days ago IndustryThe Same Permit Bottleneck Stopping Pipelines Will Also Stop the Grid Buildout
Oklahoma Senator Alan Armstrong warns that Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, used for years to block pipeline projects, will create the same permitting paralysis for transmission lines as AI and manufacturing drive record grid demand.
1 month agoRelated Guides
What Happens to Subcontractor Billing When a Project Stalls, Goes Over Budget, or Never Gets Commissioned
You did the work. The project was cancelled, shelved, or never activated. Here is what subcontractors need to know about billing rights, legal remedies, and how to get paid when no one wants to discuss the invoice.
Cash Flow GuidePost-Completion Warranty and Punch Work: Protecting Your Margins After the Job Ends
Warranty walks, punch lists, and post-completion callbacks eat into subcontractor margins. Learn how MSA warranty clauses work, when you can push back on mobilization costs, and how to document your way out of disputes.
Cash Flow GuideMechanic's Lien Rights for Subcontractors: What to Do When You're Not Getting Paid
A practical guide to mechanic's lien and materialman's lien rights for oilfield and construction subcontractors in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alberta — deadlines, filing steps, and leverage tactics.
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