July 2011 Producer Price Index — 2011-08-17

The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 0.2 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This advance followed a 0.4-percent decrease in June and a 0.2-percent rise in May. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 0.2 percent in July, and the crude goods index declined 1.2 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods moved up 7.2 percent for the 12 months ended July 2011. (See table A.) In July, the advance in the finished goods index was led by prices for finished goods less foods and energy, which rose 0.4 percent. Also contributing to higher finished goods prices, the index for finished consumer foods increased 0.6 percent. By contrast, prices for finished energy goods declined 0.6 percent. Finished core: The index for finished goods less foods and energy moved up 0.4 percent in July, the eighth consecutive rise.