August 2010 Producer Price Index — 2010-09-16

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.4 percent in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This rise followed a 0.2-percent advance in July and a 0.5-percent decline in June. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 0.3 percent in August, and the crude goods index climbed 2.3 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods increased 3.1 percent for the 12 months ended August 2010, their tenth straight year-over-year rise. (See table A.) The August advance in the finished goods index can be traced primarily to prices for finished energy goods, which rose 2.2 percent. The index for finished goods less foods and energy edged up 0.1 percent. By contrast, prices for finished consumer foods fell 0.3 percent in August. Finished energy: The index for finished energy goods climbed 2.2 percent in August after decreasing in each of the previous four months.