(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2003-09-12

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the seasonally adjusted Producer Price Index for Finished Goods advanced 0.4 percent in August. This increase followed a 0.1-percent gain in July and a 0.5-percent rise in June. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods increased 0.5 percent, following a 0.2-percent gain in July. The index for crude materials fell 1.4 percent in August, compared with a 2.9- percent decline in the prior month. (See table A.) 2003 Jan. 1.4 1.9 4.6 .3 2.5 1.2 7.6 Feb. 1.1 .4 7.4 -.1 3.3 2.0 5.2 Mar. 1.4 .2 5.4 .7 4.0 2.1 13.0 Apr. -1.7 .8 r -8.1 r -.7 2.4 r -2.3 r -15.8 May r -.4 r 0 r -3.0 r .2 2.5 r -.7 r 1.5 June .5 .4 3.4 -.1 2.9 .5 4.5 July .1 -.2 .3 .2 3.0 .2 -2.9 Aug.