(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2000-01-13

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods advanced 0.3 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This rise followed a 0.2-percent increase in November and a 0.1-percent decline in October. Prices received by producers of intermediate goods gained 0.2 percent, following a 0.3- percent advance in the prior month. The crude goods index decreased 3.9 percent, after posting a 4.0-percent increase in November. (See table A.) Table A. Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of- processing price indexes, seasonally adjusted Change in Except Finished Inter- goods foods From 12 mediate Crude and months Month Total Foods Energy energy ago goods goods (unadj.) 1998 Dec. 0.5 0.0 -1.8 1.0 0.0 -0.7 -3.6 1999 Jan. .3 1.5 .8 -.2 .8 0 .6 Feb. -.5 -1.2 -1.1 .1 .5 -.3 -2.3 Mar. .3 .3 1.7 -.1 .8 .3 .3 Apr.