(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2004-04-01

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods edged up 0.1 percent in February, seasonally adjusted. This increase followed a 0.6- percent jump in January and a 0.2-percent increase in December. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods rose 0.9 percent in February, after advancing 0.8 percent in January. The crude goods index increased 2.5 percent, compared with a 2.8-percent rise in the prior month. (See table A.) 2004 Jan. .6 -1.4 4.7 .3 3.3 .8 2.8 Feb. .1 .2 .2 .1 2.1 .9 2.5 r=revised. Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ from those previously reported because data for October 2003 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.