May 2012 Producer Price Index — 2012-06-13

The Producer Price Index for finished goods fell 1.0 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for finished goods moved down 0.2 percent in April and were unchanged in March. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods decreased 0.8 percent in May, and the crude goods index fell 3.2 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 0.7 percent for the 12 months ended in May, the eighth straight month of slowing year-over-year increases following a 7.0-percent rise for the 12 months ended September 2011. (See table A.) In May, the decrease in finished goods prices was led by the index for finished energy goods, which declined 4.3 percent. Prices for finished consumer foods fell 0.6 percent. By contrast, the index for finished goods less foods and energy advanced 0.2 percent.