(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2006-09-19

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods rose 0.1 percent in August, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This advance followed increases of 0.1 percent in July and 0.5 percent in June. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy decreased 0.4 percent in August after declining 0.3 percent in the prior month. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods moved up 0.4 percent in August following a 0.5-percent gain in the previous month, while the crude goods index rose 2.2 percent after advancing 3.1 percent in July. (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 .4 1.5 .2 3.6 .2 -2.6 Apr.