April 2010 Producer Price Index — 2010-05-18

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.1 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This decrease followed a 0.7-percent advance in March and a 0.6-percent decrease in February. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods moved up 0.8 percent and the crude goods index fell 1.2 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 5.5 percent for the 12 months ended April 2010, their sixth consecutive 12-month increase. (See table A.) In April, the decline in the index for finished goods can be attributed to lower prices for energy goods, which fell 0.8 percent. Also contributing to lower finished goods prices, the index for finished consumer foods moved down 0.2 percent. By contrast, prices for finished goods less foods and energy rose 0.2 percent. Finished energy: Prices for finished energy goods decreased 0.8 percent after rising 0.7 percent in the previous month.