February 2010 Producer Price Index — 2010-03-17

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.6 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This decrease followed a 1.4- percent advance in January and a 0.4-percent increase in December. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods moved up 0.1 percent and the crude goods index fell 3.5 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 4.4 percent for the 12 months ended February 2010, their fourth consecutive 12-month increase. (See table A.) In February, the decrease in the index for finished goods was driven by lower prices for energy goods, which declined 2.9 percent. By contrast, prices for finished consumer foods rose 0.4 percent and the index for finished goods less foods and energy inched up 0.1 percent. Finished energy: Prices for finished energy goods decreased 2.9 percent in February after advancing in each of the previous four months.