(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2003-10-10

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the seasonally adjusted Producer Price Index for Finished Goods gained 0.3 percent in September. This increase followed a 0.4-percent advance in August and a 0.1-percent rise in July. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy showed no change in September, compared with a 0.1-percent increase in the preceding month. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods fell 0.1 percent, after a 0.5-percent gain in August. The index for crude materials turned up 3.4 percent in September, following a 1.4-percent decrease 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.