(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2002-11-15

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods jumped 1.1 percent in October, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This index edged up 0.1 percent in September and showed no change in August. Rising prices for gasoline, light trucks, and passenger cars led the increase in the finished goods index in October. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods advanced 0.7 percent, following a 0.5- percent rise in September. The crude goods index jumped 3.4 percent in October, compared with a 0.6-percent increase in the preceding month. (See table A.) 2002 Jan. 0 .8 -.5 -.2 -2.7 -.2 4.6 Feb. .2 .8 0 .1 -2.6 -.2 -1.2 Mar. .9 .6 5.7 -.1 -1.6 1.0 5.0 Apr.