(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2004-07-15

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods decreased 0.3 percent in June. This decline followed a 0.8-percent rise in May and a 0.7-percent increase in April. Prices for finished goods other than foods and energy went up 0.2 percent in June, as opposed to a 0.3-percent increase in the prior month. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods rose 0.5 percent, compared with a 1.1-percent jump in the preceding month. The index for crude materials advanced 1.6 percent in June, after posting a 2.8-percent rate of increase a month earlier. (See table A.) 2004 Jan. .6 -1.3 4.7 .3 3.3 .9 4.1 Feb. .1 r .4 .3 r -.1 2.1 r 1.0 r 1.5 Mar. .5 r 1.2 .6 r .3 1.4 r .6 r -.5 Apr.