January 2011 Producer Price Index — 2011-02-16

The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 0.8 percent in January, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This advance followed increases of 0.9 percent in December and 0.7 percent in November and marks the seventh straight rise in finished goods prices. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 1.1 percent, and the crude goods index rose 3.3 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 3.6 percent for the 12 months ended January 2011. (See table A.) In January, leading the broad-based increase in the index for finished goods were higher prices for finished energy goods, which rose 1.8 percent. The indexes for both finished goods less foods and energy and for finished consumer foods also contributed to this increase, moving up 0.5 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.