July 2012 Producer Price Index — 2012-08-14

The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 0.3 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This advance followed a 0.1-percent increase in June and a 1.0-percent decline in May. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved down 0.9 percent in July, and the crude goods index advanced 1.8 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods rose 0.5 percent for the 12 months ended July 2012, continuing the trend of slowing year-over-year increases following a 7.0-percent rise for the 12 months ended September 2011. (See table A.) In July, the increase in the finished goods index was led by prices for finished goods less foods and energy, which moved up 0.4 percent. Also contributing to higher finished goods prices, the index for finished consumer foods advanced 0.5 percent. By contrast, prices for finished energy goods decreased 0.4 percent.