February 2011 Producer Price Index — 2011-03-16

The Producer Price Index for finished goods increased 1.6 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This rise followed advances of 0.8 percent in January and 0.9 percent in December, and marks the largest increase in finished goods prices since a 1.9-percent advance in June 2009. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 2.0 percent, and the crude goods index climbed 3.4 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 5.6 percent for the 12 months ended February 2011, the largest 12-month increase since a 5.9-percent rise in March 2010. (See table A.) Leading the broad-based increase in the index for finished goods, prices for finished energy goods and finished consumer foods moved up 3.3 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively. The index for finished goods less foods and energy also contributed to this advance, rising 0.2 percent.