(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2002-12-13

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods decreased 0.4 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This decline followed a 1.1-percent increase in October and a 0.1-percent gain in September. Falling prices for gasoline and passenger cars led the decline in the finished goods index in November. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by intermediate goods manufacturers fell 0.1 percent, after moving up 0.7 percent in October. The crude goods index advanced 5.1 percent in November, following a 3.4-percent increase in the previous month. (See table A.) 2002 Jan. 0 .8 -.5 -.2 -2.7 -.2 4.6 Feb. .2 .8 0 .1 -2.6 -.2 -1.2 Mar. .9 .6 5.7 -.1 -1.6 1.0 5.0 Apr.