December 2009 Producer Price Index — 2010-01-20

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods moved up 0.2 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This rise followed a 1.8-percent advance in November and a 0.3-percent increase in October. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods rose 0.5 percent and the crude goods index moved up 1.0 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 4.4 percent in 2009, after falling 0.9 percent in 2008. (See table A.) In December, the increase in the index for finished goods was driven by higher prices for consumer foods, which moved up 1.4 percent. By contrast, prices for energy goods declined 0.4 percent. The index for finished goods less foods and energy was unchanged. Finished foods: The index for finished consumer foods rose 1.4 percent in December, its third consecutive monthly increase. Accounting for one-fifth of the December advance, the index for pork climbed 9.4 percent.