(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2003-01-15

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods showed no change in December, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This followed a 0.4-percent decline in November and a 1.1-percent advance in October. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods decreased 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month. The crude goods index rose 1.9 percent, after increasing 5.1 percent in November. (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. -.1 -3.0 2.5 .1 -2.1 .8 4.2 May -.4 -.2 -2.3 0 -2.9 -.2 .8 June .1 .2 -.1 .1 -2.3 .2 -3.7 July -.2 -.1 .8 -.4 -1.2 .3 1.3 Aug. .1 -.4 r 1.4 r -.1 r -1.5 r .3 r 1.9 Sept. .1 r -.7 r .6 .1 -1.9 .5 r .3 Oct.