(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2000-04-13

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 1.0 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This rise followed a 1.0-percent rise in February and no change in January. Prices received by producers of intermediate goods rose 0.9 percent, following a 0.8-percent gain in the prior month. The crude goods index increased 1.8 percent, after a 4.2- percent advance in February. (See table A.) Table A. Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of- processing price indexes, seasonally adjusted Change in Except finished Inter- goods foods from 12 mediate Crude and months Month Total Foods Energy energy ago goods goods (unadj.) 1999 Mar. 0.4 0.4 1.9 -0.1 0.8 0.2 0.8 Apr. .5 -.8 5.1 .1 1.2 .7 2.1 May .1 .1 .3 .1 1.4 .3 5.7 June .1 .6 -.1 0 1.5 .3 .2 July .2 -.4 2.7 -.1 1.5 .7 .2 Aug.