August 2011 Producer Price Index — 2011-09-14

The Producer Price Index for finished goods was unchanged in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Finished goods prices advanced 0.2 percent in July and declined 0.4 percent in June. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods decreased 0.5 percent in August, and the crude goods index moved up 0.2 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods increased 6.5 percent for the 12 months ended August 2011, the smallest year-over-year advance since a 5.6- percent rise in March 2011. (See table A.) The index for finished goods was unchanged in August, as a 1.1-percent increase in finished consumer foods prices and a 0.1-percent advance in the index for finished goods less foods and energy offset a 1.0-percent decrease in prices for finished energy goods. Finished foods: The index for finished consumer foods jumped 1.1 percent in August, the third straight rise.