(202) 606-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 1998-10-15

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.3 percent in September, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This followed a decrease of 0.4 percent in August. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.4 percent in September, after edging down 0.1 percent in August; increases in the seasonally adjusted indexes for passenger cars and light motor trucks accounted for three-fourths of the September advance. Prices received by producers of intermediate goods declined 0.2 percent, following a 0.3-percent decrease in the prior month. The crude goods index fell 1.6 percent, after a 2.7-percent decline in August. (See table A.) Among finished goods in September, the index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy advanced, after showing no change in the prior month. Prices for finished consumer foods and capital equipment rose, following decreases in the previous month.