United States
Department
of Labor

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.3 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This rise followed a 1.2-percent
decline in March and a 0.1-percent increase in February. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by
producers of intermediate goods moved down 0.5 percent following a 1.5-percent decrease a month earlier, and
the crude goods index advanced 3.0 percent after declining 0.3 percent in March. (See table A.)

Among finished goods, prices for consumer foods rose 1.5 percent in April following a 0.7-percent
decrease in the previous month. The index for finished energy goods edged down 0.1 percent subsequent to a
5.5-percent decline in March. Prices for finished goods other than foods and energy inched up 0.1 percent
compared with no change a month earlier.

Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.6 percent in April to 169.9 (1982 = 100). From April 2008 to April 2009, finished goods prices fell 3.7 percent. Over the same period, the finished energy goods index moved down 25.6 percent. By contrast, prices for finished goods less foods and energy advanced 3.4 percent and the index for finished consumer foods increased 0.2 percent. For the 12 months ended in April, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods declined 10.5 percent, and the crude goods index dropped 40.0 percent.

The index for finished consumer foods moved up 1.5 percent in April following a 0.7-percent decline in
the prior month. Prices for eggs for fresh use climbed 43.7 percent compared with a 9.5-percent decrease a
month earlier. Similarly, the indexes for beef and veal, packaged fluid milk and related products, pork, young
chickens, and manufactured starch also turned up in April. Prices for fresh vegetables, except potatoes,
increased more than they had in March. By contrast, partially offsetting the upturn in finished consumer foods
prices, the index for cooked or smoked prepared poultry products moved down 4.6 percent in April following a
0.8-percent increase a month earlier. Prices for Irish potatoes for consumer use decreased more than they had in
March. (See table 2.)

Prices for finished energy goods inched down 0.1 percent in April subsequent to a 5.5-percent decline in the preceding month. In April, falling prices for residential natural gas, residential electric power, and finished lubricants slightly outweighed rising prices for gasoline, diesel fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, home heating oil, asphalt, and kerosene.

The index for finished goods less foods and energy edged up 0.1 percent in April following no change in
the previous month. In April, higher prices for light motor trucks, pharmaceutical preparations, and consumer
plastic products slightly outweighed lower prices for civilian aircraft, tobacco products, electronic computers,
primary batteries, and non-wood commercial furniture.

The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and Components moved down 0.5
percent in April following a 1.5-percent decline in March. Excluding foods and energy, the index for
intermediate goods decreased 0.9 percent after declining 0.3 percent a month earlier. In April, falling prices for
materials for both durable and nondurable manufacturing, as well as for materials and components for
construction, outweighed rising prices for intermediate energy goods and intermediate foods and feeds. (See
table B.)

The index for materials for nondurable manufacturing fell 1.9 percent in April following a 1.0-percent decrease in March. Prices for industrial chemicals dropped 2.5 percent after no change in the preceding month. The indexes for thermoplastic resins, medicinal and botanical chemicals, and writing and printing papers turned down in April. Prices for agricultural chemicals and chemical products fell more than they had in March. By contrast, partially offsetting the faster rate of decline in the index for materials for nondurable manufacturing, the synthetic rubber index jumped 5.1 percent in April following a 12.8-percent decrease in the previous month. Prices for thermosetting resins, synthetic fibers, and inedible fats and oils also increased after falling in March. (See table 2.)

The index for materials for durable manufacturing fell 2.1 percent in April following a 0.7-percent
decline in March. Leading this faster rate of decrease, prices for steel mill products dropped 6.9 percent in
April after edging down 0.1 percent in the previous month. The index for primary nonferrous metals also fell
more than it had in March. Prices for thermoplastic resins and original equipment automotive stampings turned
down in April. Industrial chemical prices declined following no change in March. By contrast, the index for
copper and brass mill shapes climbed 19.5 percent in April after advancing 0.8 percent a month earlier. Prices
for nonferrous wire and cable also increased more than they had in March. The indexes for synthetic rubber and
synthetic fiber turned up in April.

The index for materials and components for construction decreased 0.9 percent in April after falling 0.3
percent in March. Prices for prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products dropped 13.5 percent
following a 7.3-percent rise in the prior month. The indexes for prefabricated metal buildings; metal doors,
sash, and trim; plastic construction products; and millwork also turned down in April. Prices for steel mill
products fell more than they had in March. Conversely, the index for nonferrous wire and cable advanced 8.3
percent after rising 1.1 percent in the preceding month. Softwood lumber prices turned up in April after falling
a month earlier. The indexes for concrete products and sheet metal products decreased less than they had in
March.

The index for intermediate energy goods increased 0.7 percent in April following a 6.3-percent decrease
in the previous month. Diesel fuel prices surged 17.0 percent after dropping 17.2 percent in March. The
indexes for gasoline, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, and heating oil also turned up in April. Prices for
lubricating and similar oils fell less than they had in March. Conversely, the utility natural gas index decreased
7.2 percent in April following a 2.5-percent decline in the preceding month. Utility electric power prices also
fell more than they had in March. The index for residual fuel turned down in April.

The index for intermediate foods and feeds advanced 0.3 percent in April after decreasing 0.5 percent a month earlier. Beef and veal prices rose 4.5 percent following a 3.9-percent decline in March. The indexes for pork; corn, cottonseed, and soybean cake and meal; fluid milk products; processed young chickens; and canned specialty foods also turned up in April. Conversely, prices for shortening and cooking oils fell 1.3 percent after rising 2.4 percent in March. The indexes for processed eggs, cooked or smoked prepared poultry products, and boxed meat also decreased in April following gains in the prior month.