(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2003-12-12

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the seasonally adjusted Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.3 percent in November. This decrease followed five consecutive increases -- including a 0.8-percent rise in October and a 0.3-percent increase in September. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods edged down 0.2 percent in November, compared with a 0.4-percent gain in October. The index for crude goods increased 0.2 percent, after climbing 2.6 percent in the preceding month. (See table A.) 2003 Jan. 1.4 1.9 4.6 .3 2.5 1.2 7.6 Feb. 1.1 .4 7.4 -.1 3.3 2.0 5.2 Mar. 1.4 .2 5.4 .7 4.0 2.1 13.0 Apr. -1.7 .8 -8.1 -.7 2.4 -2.3 -15.8 May -.4 .1 -2.9 .1 2.5 -.7 1.4 June .5 .3 2.9 -.1 2.9 .5 4.4 July r .1 r -.3 .7 r .1 3.0 .1 r -3.0 Aug.