March 2012 Producer Price Index — 2012-04-12

The Producer Price Index for finished goods was unchanged in March, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Finished goods prices rose 0.4 percent in February and 0.1 percent in January. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods climbed 0.7 percent in March, and the crude goods index declined 2.5 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods moved up 2.8 percent for the 12 months ended March 2012, the smallest year-over-year increase since a 2.7-percent rise in June 2010. (See table A.) The index for finished goods was unchanged in March, as a 0.3-percent increase in prices for finished goods less foods and energy and a 0.2-percent advance in the index for finished consumer foods offset a 1.0-percent decline in prices for finished energy goods. Finished core: The index for finished goods less foods and energy moved up 0.3 percent in March, the fifth consecutive increase.