January 2013 Producer Price Index — 2013-02-20

The Producer Price Index for finished goods advanced 0.2 percent in January, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for finished goods declined 0.3 percent in December and 0.4 percent in November. At the earlier stages of processing, the index for intermediate goods was unchanged in January, and crude goods prices increased 0.8 percent. On an unadjusted basis, the finished goods index advanced 1.4 percent for the 12 months ended January 2013. (See table A.) In January, over three quarters of the rise in finished goods prices can be attributed to the index for finished consumer foods, which advanced 0.7 percent. Also contributing to the increase in finished goods prices, the index for finished goods less foods and energy rose 0.2 percent. By contrast, prices for finished energy goods fell 0.4 percent. Finished foods: The index for finished consumer foods rose 0.7 percent in January after a 0.8- percent decline in December.