October 2010 Producer Price Index — 2010-11-16

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.4 percent in October, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This advance followed a 0.4- percent rise in both September and August. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 1.2 percent in October, and the crude goods index increased 4.3 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 4.3 percent for the 12 months ended October 2010, their largest year-over-year gain since a 5.1- percent rise in May 2010. (See table A.) In October, the increase in the index for finished goods can be traced to prices for finished energy goods, which moved up 3.7 percent. By contrast, the indexes for both finished goods less foods and energy and for finished consumer foods decreased, falling 0.6 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Finished energy: Prices for finished energy goods advanced 3.7 percent in October, their third consecutive monthly increase.