November 2012 Producer Price Index — 2012-12-13

The Producer Price Index for finished goods fell 0.8 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for finished goods decreased 0.2 percent in October and rose 1.1 percent in September. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods declined 1.2 percent in November, and the crude goods index edged up 0.1 percent. On an unadjusted basis, the finished goods index advanced 1.5 percent for the 12 months ended November 2012, the smallest increase since a 0.5- percent rise for the 12 months ended July 2012. (See table A.) The November decrease in the finished goods index is attributable to prices for finished energy goods, which fell 4.6 percent. By contrast, the indexes for finished consumer foods and for finished goods less foods and energy advanced 1.3 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.