(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2002-06-13

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods fell 0.4 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This decrease followed a 0.2-percent decline in April and a 1.0-percent gain in March. Prices for finished goods other than foods and energy showed no change in May, after edging up 0.1 percent in each of the two prior months. At the earlier stages of processing, the intermediate goods index fell 0.5 percent, following a 0.9-percent rise in the prior month. Price increases for crude goods slowed to a 1.7-percent rate in May from a 5.5-percent rate in April. (See table A.) 2002 Jan. 0 .8 r -.5 r -.2 r -2.7 -.2 r 4.6 Feb. .2 1.0 r .7 r -.1 -2.6 r 0 r -1.7 Mar. 1.0 .6 5.5 .1 -1.4 1.0 4.0 Apr. -.2 -3.2 2.5 .1 -2.0 .9 5.5 May -.4 -.2 -2.3 0 -2.7 -.5 1.7 r=revised.