(202) 606-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 1996-08-09

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods remained unchanged in July, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U. S. Department of Labor reported today. This followed an increase of 0.2 percent in June and a 0.1-percent decline in May. Prices received by domestic producers of intermediate goods declined 0.3 percent after falling 0.5 percent in the previous month. The Crude Goods Price Index rose 1.2 percent after declining 2.3 percent in June. (See table A.) Among finished goods in July, the index for finished consumer foods increased 0.2 percent after rising 1.6 percent a month ago. Prices for finished energy goods declined less than in June. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy rose 0.1 percent following a 0.2 percent advance in the prior month. Table A.