August 2013 Producer Price Index — 2013-09-13

The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 0.3 percent in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for finished goods were unchanged in July and increased 0.8 percent in June. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods were unchanged in August, and the crude goods index fell 2.7 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods moved up 1.4 percent for the 12 months ended in August, the smallest advance since a 0.5-percent rise in April 2013. (See table A.) In August, nearly two-thirds of the 0.3-percent increase in the finished goods index is attributable to a 0.8-percent rise in prices for finished energy goods. Also contributing to the advance, the index for finished consumer foods climbed 0.6 percent. Prices for finished goods less foods and energy were unchanged in August.