October 2011 Producer Price Index — 2011-11-15

The Producer Price Index for finished goods declined 0.3 percent in October, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Finished goods prices rose 0.8 percent in September and were unchanged in August. At the earlier stages of processing, the index for intermediate goods moved down 1.1 percent in October and crude goods prices fell 2.5 percent. On an unadjusted basis, the finished goods index increased 5.9 percent for the 12 months ended October 2011, the smallest year-over-year advance since a 5.6-percent rise in March 2011. (See table A.) In October, the decrease in finished goods prices was the result of a 1.4-percent drop in the index for finished energy goods. By contrast, prices for finished consumer foods inched up 0.1 percent. The index for finished goods less foods and energy was unchanged. Finished energy: Prices for finished energy goods moved down 1.4 percent in October, the largest decrease since a 2.3-percent drop in June 2011.