(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2002-01-11

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.7 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The December decline follows decreases of 0.6 percent in November and 1.6 percent in October. Prices received by producers of intermediate goods decreased 0.9 percent, following a 0.5- percent decline in the prior month. The crude goods index dropped 9.5 percent, after posting a 7.3-percent rise in November. (See table A.) 2001 Jan. 1.1 .9 4.4 .5 4.8 .8 17.5 Feb. .1 .8 .4 -.3 4.0 -.2 -14.5 Mar. -.1 .9 -2.4 .1 3.0 -.3 -6.7 Apr. .5 .6 1.1 .3 3.7 -.1 .5 May .1 -.2 .4 .2 3.9 .1 -2.2 June -.4 -.2 -2.5 .1 2.6 -.2 -8.1 July -1.2 -.4 -7.6 .1 1.4 -1.2 -5.4 Aug. r .4 .7 r 1.3 r .1 r 2.0 r -.3 r -.7 Sept.