(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2004-08-13

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods rose 0.1 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This increase followed a 0.3-percent decline in June and a 0.8-percent jump in May. Prices for finished goods other than foods and energy increased 0.1 percent in July, following a 0.2-percent rise in the previous month. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods advanced 0.8 percent, compared with a 0.5-percent gain in June, while the crude goods index edged down 0.2 percent, after climbing 1.6 percent in the prior month. (See table A.) 2004 Jan. .6 -1.3 4.7 .3 3.3 .9 4.1 Feb. .1 .4 .3 -.1 2.1 1.0 1.5 Mar. r .6 r 1.5 .6 .3 r 1.5 r .8 r 1.6 Apr.