May 2009 Producer Price Index — 2009-06-16

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.2 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This rise followed a 0.3-percent advance in April and a 1.2-percent decrease in March. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods rose 0.3 percent following a 0.5-percent decline a month earlier, and the crude goods index climbed 3.6 percent after rising 3.0 percent in April. (See table A.) In May, a 2.9-percent increase in finished energy goods prices more than offset a 1.6- percent decline in the index for finished consumer foods and a 0.1-percent decrease in prices for finished goods other than foods and energy. Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.5 percent in May to 170.8 (1982 = 100). From May 2008 to May 2009, finished goods prices decreased 5.0 percent.