(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2006-12-19

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods advanced 2.0 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This gain followed declines of 1.6 percent in October and 1.3 percent in September. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy rose 1.3 percent in November compared with a 0.9-percent decrease in the previous month. At the earlier stages of processing, prices for intermediate goods moved up 0.7 percent after falling 1.1 percent in the prior month, and the crude goods index increased 15.7 percent following a 10.5-percent decline in October. (See table A.) 2006 Jan. .3 -.2 .1 .4 5.6 1.0 -.8 Feb. -1.2 -2.2 -4.5 .3 3.9 -.5 -8.4 Mar. .4 .4 1.5 .2 3.6 .2 -2.6 Apr.