(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2006-08-15

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods moved up 0.1 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This increase followed a 0.5-percent advance in June and a 0.2-percent rise in May. Prices for finished goods other than foods and energy decreased 0.3 percent in July after moving up 0.2 percent in the previous month. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods advanced 0.5 percent compared with a 0.7-percent gain in June. The index for crude materials climbed 3.1 percent after declining 1.7 percent in the prior month. (See table A.) 2006 Jan. .3 -.2 .1 .4 5.6 1.0 -.8 Feb. -1.2 -2.2 -4.5 .3 3.9 -.5 -8.4 Mar. .4 r .4 1.5 .2 r 3.6 r .2 r -2.6 Apr.