(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2006-01-13

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods rose 0.9 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This increase followed a 0.7-percent decline in November and a 0.7-percent gain in October. Prices for finished goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.1 percent in December, the same rate as in November. At the earlier stages of processing, the intermediate goods index rose 0.2 percent in December, following a 1.2- percent decrease in the prior month, while prices for crude goods moved down 2.3 percent, after falling 1.2 percent in November. (See table A.) 2005 Jan. .1 -.5 -1.0 .7 4.1 .3 -2.0 Feb. .4 .6 1.8 -.1 4.7 .6 -1.0 Mar. .8 .6 3.3 .2 5.0 1.0 4.7 Apr.