(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2001-11-09

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for Finished Goods decreased 1.6 percent in October, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This decline followed two consecutive monthly increases of 0.4 percent. Price decreases for energy goods, passenger cars, light trucks, and consumer foods led the decline in the finished goods index in October. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by intermediate goods producers fell 1.5 percent, compared with a 0.1-percent increase in September. The crude goods index dropped 9.1 percent in October, after declining 4.1 percent a month earlier. (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 r-.4 -.2 r-2.5 r.1 r2.6 -.2 r-8.1 July r-1.1 -.6 r-6.2 r.1 1.5 -1.0 r-3.5 Aug.