(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2002-05-10

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.2 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This decrease, which was led by a drop in finished consumer food prices, followed a 1.0-percent increase in March and a 0.2-percent gain in February. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy rose 0.1 percent, the same rate of increase as in March. Prices for intermediate goods moved up 0.9 percent in April, following a 1.0-percent advance in March. The crude goods index rose 5.5 percent in April, after increasing 4.0 percent in the previous month. (See table A.) 2002 Jan. r 0 .8 r -.1 r -.3 -2.6 r -.2 3.7 Feb. .2 1.0 .4 0 -2.6 -.1 -.8 Mar. 1.0 .6 5.5 .1 -1.4 1.0 4.0 Apr. -.2 -3.2 2.5 .1 -2.0 .9 5.5 r=revised.