May 2010 Producer Price Index — 2010-06-16

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods moved down 0.3 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This decline followed a 0.1-percent decrease in April and a 0.7-percent increase in March. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods advanced 0.4 percent and the crude goods index fell 2.8 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods rose 5.3 percent for the 12 months ended May 2010. This was the second consecutive month of slowing year-over-year advances after a 6.0-percent increase for the 12 months ended March 2010. (See table A.) In May, most of the decline in the index for finished goods can be attributed to lower prices for energy goods, which fell 1.5 percent. Also contributing to lower finished goods prices, the index for finished consumer foods moved down 0.6 percent. By contrast, prices for finished goods less foods and energy rose 0.2 percent.