(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2003-05-15

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 1.9 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This record decrease followed three consecutive increases: 1.7 percent in January, 1.0 percent in February, and 1.5 percent in March. At the earlier stages of processing, prices for intermediate goods fell 2.2 percent in April, after rising 2.0 percent in the previous month. The crude goods index decreased 16.3 percent, following a 13.3-percent gain in March. (See table A.) 2003 Jan. r 1.7 1.6 r 4.4 .9 2.8 r 1.2 r 8.1 Feb. 1.0 .6 7.4 -.5 3.5 2.1 4.8 Mar. 1.5 .1 5.7 .7 4.2 2.0 13.3 Apr. -1.9 .9 -8.6 -.9 2.4 -2.2 -16.3 r=revised. Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ from those previously reported because data for December 2002 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.