March 2013 Producer Price Index — 2013-04-12

The Producer Price Index for finished goods decreased 0.6 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Finished goods prices rose 0.7 percent in February and 0.2 percent in January. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods fell 0.9 percent in March, and the crude goods index declined 2.5 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods increased 1.1 percent for the 12 months ended March 2013, the smallest year-over-year advance since a 0.5- percent rise in July 2012. (See table A.) In March, the decline in the finished goods index is attributable to prices for finished energy goods, which dropped 3.4 percent. By contrast, the indexes for finished consumer foods and for finished goods less foods and energy moved up 0.8 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.