(202) 691-7705 This Release Is Embargoed — 2003-03-14

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods climbed 1.0 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This increase followed a 1.6-percent advance in January and a 0.1-percent decline in December. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by intermediate goods manufacturers rose 2.1 percent in February, following a 1.3-percent increase in the prior month. The crude goods index advanced 4.8 percent, compared with a 6.9- percent jump in January. (See table A.) 2003 Jan. 1.6 1.6 4.8 .9 2.8 1.3 6.9 Feb. 1.0 .6 7.4 -.5 3.5 2.1 4.8 r=revised. Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ from those previously reported because data for October 2002 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.