FOR DATA ONLY: (202) 606-7828 USDL 98-138 FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN (202) 606-7705 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 606-5902 UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (E.D.T), THURSDAY, http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm APRIL 9, 1998 Producer Price Indexes -- March 1998 The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.3 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This decline followed decreases of 0.1 percent in February and 0.7 percent in January. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy showed no change in March, after advancing 0.1 percent a month ago. Prices received by producers of intermediate goods declined 0.5 percent, following a 0.2-percent drop in the prior month. The crude goods index fell 1.6 percent, after a 2.5- percent decrease in February. (See Table A.) Table A. Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of- processing price indexes, seasonally adjusted Finish ed goods Change in Except finished Inter- goods foods from 12 mediateCrude and months Month Total Foods Energy energy ago goods goods (unadj.) 1997 Mar. -0.2 0.9 -2.6 0.1 1.5 -0.3 -7.7 Apr. -0.4 -0.4 -2.2 0 0.8 -0.3 0.5 May -0.2 0.4 -1.0 -0.2 0.4 -0.1 1.9 June -0.2 -0.8 -0.2 0 -0.1 -0.1 -2.7 July -0.2 -0.3 -0.5 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.5 Aug. 0.2 -0.1 0.9 0.1 -0.2 0.1 0.4 Sept. 0.4 0 1.1 0.4 0 0.2 1.3 Oct. 0 0.7 -0.5 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 4.6 Nov. r-0.2 r-0.3 r-0.4 r-0.1 r-0.7 0.2 r1.6 Dec. -0.2 -0.1 r-0.7 r0 -1.2 r-0.2 r-5.9 1998 Jan. -0.7 -0.4 -3.7 -0.1 -1.8 -0.6 -4.5 Feb. -0.1 0.4 -1.8 0.1 -1.6 -0.2 -2.5 Mar. -0.3 -0.4 -1.9 0 -1.8 -0.5 -1.6 r=revised. Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ from those previously reported because data for November 1997 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. -2- Among finished goods in March, the index for finished consumer foods declined 0.4 percent, following a 0.4-percent increase in the previous month. Prices for finished energy goods fell for the sixth consecutive month. In March, the finished energy drop was led by a large decline in gasoline prices. The decline in gasoline accounted for over half of the finished goods index decrease. Prices for capital equipment showed no change in March, after falling a month ago. The index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy increased 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month. During the first quarter of 1998, the Finished Goods Price Index moved downward at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.2 percent, following a 1.2-percent rate of decline during the fourth quarter of 1997. The index for finished energy goods fell at a 25.9-percent annual rate from December 1997 to March 1998, after falling at a 6.1-percent annual rate over the last three months of 1997, and accounted for more than three fourths of the faster rate of decline in the finished goods index in the first quarter of 1998. The index for finished consumer foods turned down at an annual rate of 1.5 percent from December to March, after increasing at a 0.9-percent rate during the fourth quarter of 1997. Prices for consumer nondurables less foods fell more than in the prior quarter. The index for finished goods other than foods and energy showed no change in the first quarter of 1998, after decreasing 0.6 percent in the prior quarter. Prices for capital equipment fell less during the first three months of 1998 than in the final quarter of 1997. Table B. Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted Interm Crude ediate goods goods Change in Change in intermedi crude ate Exclud goods Excludi goods ing from ng foods 12 months Energy foods from 12 and ago and months ago Month Foods Energy energy (unadj.) Foods (unadj energy (unadj.) .) 1997 Mar. 1.8 -3.3 0.0 0.6 1.7 -21.3 0.2 -2.2 Apr. 0.4 -2.2 0 -0.1 3.0 -0.9 -2.1 -5.7 May 0.4 -1.4 0.1 -0.6 -0.9 5.8 1.4 -4.7 June -1.3 0.1 0 -0.3 -4.7 -2.0 -0.2 -5.5 July -1.7 -0.9 0.1 -0.3 -0.6 -0.1 -0.5 -7.4 Aug. -0.4 0.6 0 -0.2 -0.4 0.8 1.3 -7.3 Sept. 1.1 0.6 0.1 -0.6 -0.3 4.4 -0.7 -3.9 Oct. -2.4 0.6 -0.1 -0.4 1.1 11.5 -0.1 1.3 Nov. 1.6 r0 0.1 r-0.2 r-0.1 r4.6 r-0.4 r-0.1 Dec. -0.9 r-1.5 r0 -0.8 r-0.2 r-14.1 r-1.5 -11.7 1998 Jan. -3.2 -2.9 -0.1 -1.7 -3.3 -7.3 -2.2 -18.7 Feb. -0.1 -1.2 -0.1 -1.7 -0.7 -6.5 0.1 -13.5 Mar. -1.6 -2.4 -0.1 -1.8 0.7 -4.3 -1.9 -7.8 r=revised. Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ from those previously reported because data for November 1997 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. -3- Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods fell 0.3 percent in March to stand at 129.7 (1982=100). From March 1997 to March 1998, the Finished Goods Price Index decreased 1.8 percent. Over the past 12 months, prices for finished consumer foods declined 1.4 percent, the index for finished energy goods fell 10.4 percent, and prices for finished goods other than foods and energy decreased 0.1 percent. Prices received by domestic producers of intermediate goods declined 1.8 percent for the 12 months ended in March, and the index for crude goods fell 7.8 percent during the same period. Finished goods Prices for finished consumer foods turned down 0.4 percent in March, following a 0.4-percent increase a month ago. The index for dairy products fell 1.2 percent, after rising 3.1 percent in the previous month. Prices for fresh fruits and melons, beef and veal, and for finfish and shellfish also turned down, after increasing in February. The index for processed young chickens rose less than in the prior month. By contrast, prices for eggs for fresh use advanced 13.4 percent, following a 13.9-percent decline a month ago. The index for processed turkeys also turned up, after falling a month earlier. Prices for soft drinks and for fresh and dry vegetables rose more than a month ago. The index for finished energy goods declined 1.9 percent in March, following a 1.8-percent decrease in February. Falling prices for gasoline, residential electric power, and home heating oil more than offset price increases for residential natural gas and finished lubricants. Prices for capital equipment showed no change, after declining 0.1 percent in February. In March, rising prices for light motor trucks, civilian aircraft, truck trailers, and for construction machinery and equipment offset falling prices for electronic computers and commercial furniture. Prices for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.1 percent in March, following a similar increase a month ago. Price increases for prescription drugs, light motor trucks, passenger cars, periodical circulation, and for sanitary papers and health products outweighed price declines for book publishing, household appliances, men's and boys' apparel, and over-the-counter drugs. Intermediate goods The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and Components decreased 0.5 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, after declining 0.2 percent in February. During the first quarter of 1998, this index fell at a 5.3-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after declining at a 0.6-percent rate during the prior quarter. In March, prices for intermediate energy goods and intermediate foods and feeds decreased more than in the previous month. The index for materials for durable manufacturing fell, after rising last month. Prices for materials and components for construction showed no change, after a slight increase in the prior month. The index for materials for nondurable manufacturing decreased at the same rate as a month ago. Excluding foods and energy, the index for intermediate materials decreased 0.1 percent, the same as in February. (See table B.) Prices for intermediate energy goods declined 2.4 percent in March, following a 1.2-percent decline in February. This index declined at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 23.0 percent during the first quarter of 1998, following a 3.6-percent rate of decline for the previous three months. In March, the index for residual fuel fell 17.3 percent, after a 12.6-percent advance in the prior month. Prices for commercial electric power, diesel fuel, jet fuels, gasoline, and liquefied petroleum gas all decreased more than in the previous month. Conversely, the index for utility natural gas advanced 0.5 percent, following a 2.3-percent decline last month. Prices for coke oven products also turned up, after falling in February. -4- Prices for intermediate foods and feeds declined 1.6 percent in March, following a 0.1-percent decline in February. During the first quarter of 1998, this index fell at an 18.1-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after falling at a 6.8-percent rate during the prior quarter. In March, the index for fluid milk products decreased 1.8 percent, after a 5.6- percent increase a month ago. Prices for refined sugar and for beef and veal also fell, after rising in the previous month. The index for pork declined more than last month. The index for confectionery materials rose less than in the prior month. By contrast, the index for prepared animal feeds declined 2.7 percent, following a 3.5-percent decline last month. Prices for flour and for condensed and evaporated milk products rose more than in the previous month. The index for durable manufacturing materials declined 0.5 percent in March, following a 0.1-percent advance in February. From December 1997 to March 1998, this index declined at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.5 percent, following a 4.7-percent rate of decline for the previous quarter. In March, prices for building paper and board decreased 3.4 percent, after increasing 3.4 percent a month ago. The indexes for precious metals, plywood, and for hot-rolled bars, plates, and structural shapes also fell, after rising in the previous month. Prices for hot-rolled sheet and strip fell more than last month. On the other hand, the index for copper cathode and refined copper rose 2.7 percent, following a 0.8-percent increase a month earlier. Prices for prepared paint also rose more than in February. The indexes for flat glass and for cold rolled sheet and strip fell less than a month ago. The index for materials and components for construction showed no change in March, following a 0.1-percent advance in February. During the first quarter of 1998, this index fell at a 0.3-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after falling at a 0.5-percent rate during the final quarter of 1997. In March, falling prices for plywood, switchgear, softwood lumber, wiring devices, and millwork offset rising prices for nonferrous wire and cable, fabricated structural metal products, metal valves, cement, and plastic construction products. The index for nondurable manufacturing materials declined 0.5 percent in March, following a similar 0.5-percent decline in February. This index declined at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.5 percent during the first quarter of 1998, following a 0.6-percent rate of increase for the previous quarter. In March, falling prices for primary basic organic chemicals, plastic resins and materials, nitrogenates, synthetic rubber, gray fabrics, and basic inorganic chemicals outweighed rising prices for paperboard, finished fabrics, paper, and for inedible fats and oils. Crude goods The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing declined 1.6 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, following a 2.5-percent drop in February. This index fell at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 29.6 percent in the first quarter of 1998, following no change in the final quarter of 1997. In March, prices for crude energy materials fell less than in the prior month. The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs rose, after falling in February. Prices for basic industrial materials fell, after rising in the previous month. (See table B.) The index for crude energy materials decreased 4.3 percent in March after falling 6.5 percent in February. During the first quarter of 1998, this index fell at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 52.6 percent, following a 1.0-percent rate of increase in the fourth quarter of 1997. In March, price declines for crude petroleum outweighed price increases for coal and natural gas. -5- Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs turned up 0.7 percent in March, after decreasing 0.7 percent in the prior month. From December 1997 to March 1998, this index fell at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 12.7 percent, following a 3.3-percent rate of increase in the final quarter of 1997. In March, the index for slaughter cattle advanced 3.7 percent, after falling 4.8 percent in the previous month. Prices for slaughter turkeys also turned up, after declining in February. The indexes for slaughter broilers and fryers, wheat, and for fresh vegetables, except potatoes, rose more than a month ago. By contrast, prices for soybeans fell 3.1 percent, following a 3.3-percent gain in February. The indexes for fluid milk and for fresh fruits and melons also fell, after rising in the prior month. Prices for slaughter hogs decreased more than in the previous month. The index for crude nonfood materials less energy turned down 1.9 percent in March, following a 0.1 percent increase in February. This index fell at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.0 percent in the first quarter of 1998, following a 7.9-percent rate of decline in the fourth quarter of 1997. In March, prices for leaf tobacco fell 9.5 percent, after rising 4.0 percent in the previous month. The indexes for gold ores, raw cotton, wastepaper, and copper ores also turned down, after advancing a month ago. On the other hand, prices for softwood logs, bolts, and timber turned up 0.6 percent, following a 1.2-percent drop in the prior month. The index for aluminum base scrap fell less than in February. Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries Mining. The Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic mining industries fell 3.4 percent in March following a 4.4-percent decline in February. (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.) From December 1997 to March 1998, this index fell at an annual rate of 42.8 percent, following a 13.6-percent annual rate of increase in the last quarter of 1997. In March, the index for the oil and gas extraction industry group fell 4.8 percent, following a 5.7-percent drop in the previous month. Prices for the coal mining industry group turned up 0.7 percent following a 2.6-percent decrease in the prior month. By contrast, prices for the metal mining industry group declined 1.6 percent, after rising 3.7 percent a month ago. Prices for the non-metallic mineral mining industry group increased less than in February. In March, the Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic mining industries stood at 72.0 (December 1984=100), 8.6 percent below its year-ago level. Manufacturing. The Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic manufacturing industries declined 0.4 percent in March, following a 0.1-percent decline in February. This index moved down at a 4.0-percent annual rate in the first quarter of 1998, after falling at a 1.2 percent annual rate in the previous quarter. In March, prices for the petroleum refining and the chemicals and allied products industry groups fell more than in the previous month. Prices for the food and kindred products, lumber and wood products, printing and publishing, and measuring instruments industry groups turned down, after increasing in the prior month. The indexes for the apparel, furniture and fixtures, and fabricated metal products industry groups increased less than in February. Conversely, prices for the paper products industry group turned up, after falling a month earlier. In March, the Producer Price Index for the net output of the total domestic manufacturing sector stood at 125.7 (December 1984=100), 1.6 percent below its year-ago level. -6- Other. Among other industries in March, prices for passenger car rental fell, after increasing in the previous month. Indexes for freight transportation along the Great Lakes, Mississippi river transportation, marine cargo handling, freight transportation arrangement, recovered paper collection, truck rental and leasing, and architectural services also turned down, after rising a month earlier. Prices for local trucking without storage, electric power utilities, and ferrous metal scrap collection fell more than in February. The indexes for courier services (except by air), air passenger transportation, travel agencies, telephone communications, real estate agents and managers, advertising agencies, and for skilled and intermediate care facilities rose less than in the prior month. The index for other specialty hospitals was unchanged, after advancing in February. By contrast, the index for home health care services increased 0.5 percent in March, after falling 1.3 percent in February. Prices for general warehousing and storage, deep sea domestic transportation of freight, air cargo transportation, air courier services, and airports and airport services also turned up after falling in the previous month. The indexes for nonscheduled air transportation, radio broadcasting, cable and other pay television services, operators of nonresidential buildings, hotels and motels, help supply services, offices and clinics of doctors of medicine, and legal services rose more than a month ago. Prices for natural gas utilities showed no change after falling in February. ***** Producer Price Index data for April 1998 will be released on Wednesday, May 13, at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T.) ***** Information in this news release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-7828; TDD phone: 202-606- 5897; TDD Message Referral phone: 1-800-326-2577. Table 1. Producer Price Indexes and percent changes by stage of processing (1982=100) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | |Unadjusted | | | | percent |Seasonally adjusted | Relative | Unadjusted index |change to |percent change from: Grouping |importance| |Mar. 1998 from:| | |_______________________|_______________|_______________________________ | Dec. | | | | | | | | | Nov. |Feb. |Mar. | Mar. | Feb. |Dec. to|Jan. to |Feb. to | 1997 1/|1997 2/|1998 2/|1998 2/| 1997 | 1998 | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. _________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|____________ | Finished goods...................................| 100.000 131.7 130.1 129.7 -1.8 -0.3 -0.7 -0.1 -0.3 Finished consumer goods........................| 74.733 130.1 128.1 127.6 -2.1 -.4 -.8 -.2 -.4 Finished consumer foods......................| 23.171 134.6 133.6 133.3 -1.4 -.2 -.4 .4 -.4 Crude......................................| 1.751 130.3 128.6 129.4 -7.8 .6 -2.8 1.3 .2 Processed..................................| 21.420 134.9 134.0 133.6 -.9 -.3 -.2 .3 -.4 Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....| 51.563 128.0 125.5 124.9 -2.6 -.5 -1.1 -.3 -.5 Nondurable goods less foods................| 35.258 123.9 120.6 119.9 -3.2 -.6 -1.5 -.5 -.6 Durable goods..............................| 16.304 134.1 133.5 133.3 -1.3 -.1 -.2 -.1 -.1 Capital equipment..............................| 25.267 138.3 137.9 137.9 -.6 0 -.1 -.1 0 Manufacturing industries.....................| 6.590 137.8 137.9 138.0 .1 .1 .1 0 .1 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 18.677 138.3 137.8 137.7 -.9 -.1 -.1 -.1 .1 | Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.| 100.000 125.5 124.0 123.3 -1.8 -.6 -.6 -.2 -.5 Materials and components for manufacturing.....| 47.581 128.2 127.5 127.0 -1.2 -.4 -.4 -.1 -.3 Materials for food manufacturing.............| 3.493 124.2 122.1 121.1 -2.4 -.8 -2.2 1.8 -.9 Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......| 16.163 130.0 129.5 128.7 -.5 -.6 -.1 -.5 -.5 Materials for durable manufacturing..........| 10.580 132.1 130.7 130.0 -2.5 -.5 -.7 .1 -.5 Components for manufacturing.................| 17.345 126.0 126.0 126.0 -.6 0 -.1 0 0 Materials and components for construction......| 13.538 146.6 146.7 146.6 .3 -.1 -.2 .1 0 Processed fuels and lubricants.................| 13.022 88.3 82.0 79.8 -10.0 -2.7 -2.9 -1.2 -2.5 Manufacturing industries ....................| 4.821 91.3 86.5 84.6 -7.0 -2.2 -2.5 -.2 -2.0 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 8.201 86.3 79.3 76.8 -11.9 -3.2 -3.1 -1.7 -2.8 Containers.....................................| 3.775 138.1 140.8 142.1 4.5 .9 .7 .1 1.1 Supplies.......................................| 22.084 136.1 135.2 135.0 -.6 -.1 -.4 -.1 -.2 Manufacturing industries.....................| 4.940 140.2 140.5 140.6 1.3 .1 0 .1 .1 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 17.144 133.9 132.8 132.5 -1.3 -.2 -.6 -.2 -.3 Feeds......................................| 1.613 123.6 111.1 107.6 -19.0 -3.2 -5.5 -4.2 -3.3 Other supplies.............................| 15.531 135.4 135.5 135.6 .8 .1 0 .1 .1 | Crude materials for further processing...........| 100.000 114.7 100.4 99.2 -7.8 -1.2 -4.5 -2.5 -1.6 Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................| 42.215 110.4 105.1 106.6 -6.6 1.4 -3.3 -.7 .7 Nonfood materials..............................| 57.785 113.4 93.5 90.5 -9.0 -3.2 -5.5 -3.9 -3.3 Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............| 33.354 101.7 92.7 86.9 -16.4 -6.3 -5.8 -.8 -6.5 Manufacturing 3/...........................| 32.018 93.2 84.4 78.9 -17.4 -6.5 -6.0 -.7 -6.8 Construction...............................| 1.336 199.6 200.9 201.1 -.4 .1 -.4 -1.1 .5 Crude fuel 4/................................| 24.431 122.7 87.1 88.2 7.4 1.3 -5.0 -8.2 1.3 Manufacturing industries...................| 2.029 117.4 85.2 85.7 5.3 .6 -5.2 -7.4 .6 Nonmanufacturing industries................| 22.402 125.7 88.8 90.0 8.0 1.4 -5.0 -8.3 1.4 | Special groupings | | Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.829 130.8 129.0 128.6 -1.9 -.3 -.8 -.2 -.3 Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 94.894 125.6 124.3 123.6 -1.6 -.6 -.5 -.2 -.4 Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/ 5.106 124.3 118.9 117.1 -7.9 -1.5 -3.2 -.1 -1.6 Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 55.171 113.2 92.7 89.7 -9.0 -3.2 -5.5 -4.2 -3.2 | Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.575 81.9 75.8 74.4 -10.4 -1.8 -3.7 -1.8 -1.9 Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.425 140.6 140.2 140.1 -.4 -.1 -.2 .1 -.1 Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.158 141.4 141.1 140.9 -.4 -.1 -.2 .3 -.1 | Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 63.254 142.8 142.8 142.7 -.1 -.1 -.1 .1 0 Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 37.988 145.8 145.8 145.8 .3 0 -.1 .1 .1 Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.684 154.4 154.9 155.1 1.6 .1 -.1 .3 .1 | Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 13.132 88.0 81.8 79.5 -10.2 -2.8 -2.9 -1.2 -2.4 Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 86.868 133.8 133.3 133.0 -.6 -.2 -.3 -.1 -.2 Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.762 134.4 134.2 134.0 -.1 -.1 -.1 -.1 -.1 | Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 36.173 97.1 72.3 69.2 -10.2 -4.3 -7.3 -6.5 -4.3 Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 63.827 121.6 116.8 117.3 -6.7 .4 -2.9 -.4 -.3 Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.612 154.3 151.0 148.7 -6.8 -1.5 -2.2 .1 -1.9 | ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed 3/ Includes crude petroleum. after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated 4/ Excludes crude petroleum. after final December indexes are available. The first-published 5/ Percent of total finished goods. and final December relative importances initially appear, 6/ Percent of total intermediate materials. respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data. 7/ Formerly titled "Crude materials for 2/ The indexes for November 1997 have been recalculated to incorporate further processing, excluding crude late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and are subject to revision four months after original publication. animal fibers, oilseeds, and leaf tobacco." 8/ Percent of total crude materials. Table 2. Producer Price Indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | |Unadjusted | | | | percent |Seasonally adjusted | | Unadjusted index |change to |percent change from: Commodity | | |Mar. 1998 from:| code | Grouping |_______________________|_______________|________________________ | | | | | | | | | | |Nov. |Feb. |Mar. | Mar. | Feb. |Dec. to|Jan. to|Feb. to | |1997 1/|1998 1/|1998 1/| 1997 | 1998 | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. ___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ | | |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 131.7 130.1 129.7 -1.8 -0.3 -0.7 -0.1 -0.3 | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 130.1 128.1 127.6 -2.1 -.4 -.8 -.2 -.4 | FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 134.6 133.6 133.3 -1.4 -.2 -.4 .4 -.4 | | 01-11 | Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................| 89.6 92.5 84.6 -21.7 -8.5 -18.5 5.8 -8.5 01-13 | Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 130.0 148.7 156.9 12.3 5.5 12.9 3.9 5.5 01-71-07 | Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................| 117.7 86.0 98.6 -.2 14.7 -.6 -13.9 13.4 02-11 | Bakery products 2/..................................| 174.8 175.2 175.2 1.3 0 .3 .1 0 02-13 | Milled rice 2/......................................| 127.1 124.6 123.9 -3.4 -.6 -.9 -1.0 -.6 02-14-02 | Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 123.6 123.5 120.6 -4.9 -2.3 -.1 0 -2.3 02-21-01 | Beef and veal.......................................| 104.1 101.1 97.8 -7.0 -3.3 .8 .6 -4.7 02-21-04 | Pork................................................| 111.3 97.4 93.0 -22.2 -4.5 -9.0 -3.7 -5.5 02-22-03 | Processed young chickens............................| 115.4 117.0 118.8 -.1 1.5 1.1 5.0 1.5 02-22-06 | Processed turkeys...................................| 103.3 90.2 92.4 -6.3 2.4 -1.7 -3.7 1.7 02-23 | Finfish and shellfish...............................| 189.1 193.6 187.1 0 -3.4 -.8 3.3 -5.2 02-3 | Dairy products......................................| 134.0 133.5 132.2 3.0 -1.0 -1.7 3.1 -1.2 02-4 | Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 124.9 125.3 125.3 -1.6 0 -.2 .6 0 02-55 | Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 168.4 167.9 167.9 -.3 0 -.1 -.1 0 02-62 | Soft drinks.........................................| 132.4 134.2 134.9 1.0 .5 -.2 .2 .9 02-63-01 | Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 151.8 151.1 151.3 5.9 .1 -.2 .1 .1 02-76 | Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 142.2 141.5 140.2 2.2 -.9 .9 2.4 -.9 | | | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 128.0 125.5 124.9 -2.6 -.5 -1.1 -.3 -.5 | | 02-61 | Alcoholic beverages.................................| 134.0 135.1 135.0 -.6 -.1 .3 -.3 .1 03-81-01 | Women's apparel 2/..................................| 121.3 120.6 120.7 .4 .1 0 .1 .1 03-81-02 | Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 132.6 132.9 132.8 .1 -.1 -.8 .4 -.2 03-81-03 | Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 122.2 123.1 122.6 -1.1 -.4 .6 -.1 -.4 03-82 | Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 123.0 123.5 123.5 1.0 0 .2 .2 0 04-3 | Footwear............................................| 144.1 144.7 144.7 .8 0 .1 -.1 .1 05-41 | Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 110.3 108.9 108.5 -1.8 -.4 -1.3 0 -.4 05-51 | Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 122.1 113.5 114.4 -1.5 .8 -3.3 -1.7 1.8 05-71 | Gasoline............................................| 67.9 55.6 51.8 -29.5 -6.8 -7.9 -6.4 -7.6 05-73-02-01| Fuel oil No. 2......................................| 66.5 53.9 50.1 -21.7 -7.1 -8.9 -.7 -4.5 06-35 | Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription)........| 277.1 280.5 284.1 4.5 1.3 .8 .3 1.2 06-36 | Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter).....| 185.1 185.0 183.9 -1.9 -.6 -.2 -.2 -.6 06-71 | Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 126.9 126.3 126.4 .2 .1 -.8 .3 .1 06-75 | Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 130.7 131.6 131.6 .8 0 .3 .6 0 07-12 | Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................| 94.3 94.2 94.2 -1.5 0 .2 .1 0 09-15-01 | Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 146.1 145.0 145.7 -1.6 .5 -.1 -.4 .5 09-31-01 | Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 202.0 202.3 202.3 .2 0 .1 0 0 09-32-01 | Periodical circulation..............................| 189.5 190.9 191.7 2.5 .4 -1.1 .4 .8 09-33 | Book publishing 2/..................................| 205.1 205.9 202.4 1.8 -1.7 .1 1.0 -1.7 12-1 | Household furniture 2/..............................| 146.9 147.7 147.9 1.4 .1 .3 .3 .1 12-3 | Floor coverings 2/..................................| 128.5 128.3 128.0 -.8 -.2 -.6 1.2 -.2 12-4 | Household appliances 2/.............................| 109.2 108.8 108.3 -2.5 -.5 0 -.2 -.5 12-5 | Home electronic equipment 2/........................| 75.8 75.8 75.8 -3.1 0 -.3 0 0 12-62 | Household glassware 2/..............................| 162.5 161.9 162.8 1.9 .6 -.2 -.1 .6 12-64 | Household flatware 2/...............................| 138.4 138.9 139.0 .3 .1 0 -.2 .1 12-66 | Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 130.9 130.8 131.3 -1.2 .4 0 -.2 .4 14-11-01 | Passenger cars......................................| 134.8 133.3 133.2 -2.3 -.1 -.5 -.3 .1 15-11 | Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 125.0 124.3 124.2 -.9 -.1 -.1 -1.3 .3 15-12 | Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 125.0 125.9 125.8 1.0 -.1 .4 .3 -.1 15-2 | Tobacco products 2/.................................| 256.4 261.9 262.0 8.5 0 -.3 1.8 0 15-5 | Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 153.1 153.1 153.2 1.3 .1 .1 .1 .1 15-94-02 | Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 129.2 129.5 128.3 -.2 -.9 -.2 .8 -.9 15-94-04 | Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 138.8 138.8 138.9 -.6 .1 0 -1.5 .1 | | | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.3 137.9 137.9 -.6 0 -.1 -.1 0 | | 11-1 | Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 149.7 148.5 148.6 -.2 .1 -.1 .2 .1 11-2 | Construction machinery and equipment................| 143.0 144.3 145.0 2.2 .5 0 .1 .7 11-37 | Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 157.5 159.8 160.5 3.7 .4 .2 .7 .4 11-38 | Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 155.3 155.4 157.3 3.1 1.2 -.3 .5 1.2 11-39 | Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 138.4 138.7 138.8 .8 .1 .1 .1 .1 11-41 | Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 147.3 148.2 148.5 1.9 .2 -.1 .2 .1 11-44 | Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 130.2 130.5 130.7 1.4 .2 .2 0 .2 11-51 | Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............| 30.0 27.0 26.5 -26.4 -1.9 -3.0 -6.6 -1.9 11-62 | Textile machinery 2/................................| 152.5 152.8 153.2 1.1 .3 .2 .1 .3 11-64 | Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 159.4 160.0 159.5 1.8 -.3 .1 .8 -.4 11-65 | Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 139.0 138.9 139.6 0 .5 -.1 -.1 .5 11-74 | Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 129.2 128.8 128.6 -.9 -.2 -.1 0 -.2 11-76 | Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 114.8 114.8 114.8 1.2 0 .1 .1 0 11-79-05 | X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 107.0 107.3 107.2 -.6 -.1 0 .5 -.1 11-91 | Oil field and gas field machinery 2/................| 124.8 125.2 125.8 3.0 .5 .5 .2 .5 11-92 | Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 141.7 141.9 142.5 2.8 .4 .4 -.1 .4 11-93 | Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.6 112.2 112.4 0 .2 -.3 0 .2 12-2 | Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 155.0 155.8 155.6 1.6 -.1 .1 .4 -.1 14-11-05 | Light motor trucks..................................| 159.2 156.1 156.1 -3.4 0 -.8 .1 .2 14-11-06 | Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 139.2 139.9 140.2 -.2 .2 .3 -.2 .2 14-14 | Truck trailers 2/...................................| 129.9 133.8 135.0 3.6 .9 2.8 .1 .9 14-21-02 | Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 150.1 150.0 150.0 .2 0 -.3 .1 .2 14-31 | Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 145.3 145.4 145.6 2.1 .1 0 .1 .1 14-4 | Railroad equipment..................................| 134.2 134.0 134.3 1.6 .2 -.4 -.6 .9 | | |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 125.5 124.0 123.3 -1.8 -.6 -.6 -.2 -.5 | | | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 124.3 118.9 117.1 -7.9 -1.5 -3.2 -.1 -1.6 | | 02-12-03 | Flour 2/............................................| 114.2 111.5 114.1 -4.6 2.3 -3.0 1.5 2.3 02-53 | Refined sugar 2/....................................| 119.9 121.0 120.5 -4.5 -.4 -.5 1.6 -.4 02-54 | Confectionery materials.............................| 98.4 95.8 96.5 -10.6 .7 2.7 2.4 .4 02-72 | Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 126.1 130.8 135.2 13.2 3.4 -.4 3.9 3.4 02-9 | Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 128.1 117.4 114.2 -16.1 -2.7 -4.7 -3.5 -2.7 | | | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 125.6 124.3 123.6 -1.6 -.6 -.5 -.2 -.4 | | 03-1 | Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 110.4 111.1 110.8 -.5 -.3 -.2 1.0 -.3 03-2 | Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 114.2 114.9 114.8 .3 -.1 0 1.4 -.1 03-3 | Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 121.7 123.2 122.7 .9 -.4 .8 .3 -.4 03-4 | Finished fabrics....................................| 123.7 124.0 124.0 .3 0 -.1 .1 .2 03-83-03 | Industrial textile products 2/......................| 130.6 130.9 131.0 2.6 .1 2.5 -.1 .1 04-2 | Leather.............................................| 185.2 179.7 179.4 -3.3 -.2 -1.4 -1.4 -.2 05-32 | Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 85.2 72.0 67.6 -21.4 -6.1 -9.3 -3.1 -6.1 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ See footnotes at end of table. Table 2. Producer Price Indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing - Continued (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | |Unadjusted | | | | percent |Seasonally adjusted | | Unadjusted index |change to |percent change from: Commodity | | |Mar. 1998 from:| code | Grouping |_______________________|_______________|________________________ | | | | | | | | | | |Nov. |Feb. |Mar. | Mar. | Feb. |Dec. to|Jan. to|Feb. to | |1997 1/|1998 1/|1998 1/| 1997 | 1998 | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. ___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ | | | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS | | -Continued..........................................| 05-42 | Commercial electric power...........................| 127.0 127.0 125.8 -1.4 -0.9 -0.5 -0.2 -0.9 05-43 | Industrial electric power...........................| 127.9 127.1 126.8 -1.1 -.2 -.9 -.1 -.3 05-52 | Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 118.5 108.7 108.1 -2.0 -.6 -4.5 -1.5 .7 05-53 | Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 120.3 107.9 105.5 -1.7 -2.2 -3.6 -1.9 -.4 05-54 | Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...| 111.3 89.0 87.7 -11.9 -1.5 -9.0 -10.9 .1 05-72-03 | Jet fuels...........................................| 63.7 52.1 47.1 -29.4 -9.6 -3.4 -3.0 -6.1 05-73-03 | No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................| 65.8 51.3 47.6 -28.4 -7.2 -5.1 -3.4 -7.5 05-74 | Residual fuel 2/....................................| 62.9 53.8 44.5 -22.7 -17.3 -11.8 12.6 -17.3 06-1 | Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 126.2 124.9 123.7 -2.4 -1.0 -.2 -1.5 -1.0 06-21 | Prepared paint......................................| 152.5 153.1 153.6 1.3 .3 .1 .1 .3 06-22 | Paint materials 2/..................................| 142.4 143.4 143.3 2.6 -.1 .4 .2 -.1 06-31 | Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 134.9 135.0 134.9 2.0 -.1 .3 -.1 -.1 06-4 | Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 143.0 112.0 116.1 -12.4 3.7 -7.9 -15.0 3.7 06-51 | Mixed fertilizers...................................| 113.6 113.9 114.1 .4 .2 .1 -1.0 -.2 06-52-01 | Nitrogenates........................................| 122.8 116.3 113.8 -19.2 -2.1 -3.9 -1.8 -3.7 06-52-02 | Phosphates 2/.......................................| 109.3 109.9 110.1 -1.8 .2 -1.1 -.1 .2 06-53 | Other agricultural chemicals........................| 150.4 150.2 150.0 3.4 -.1 .4 -.5 .1 06-6 | Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 134.6 132.7 130.8 -5.7 -1.4 .5 -.9 -1.4 07-11-02 | Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 118.4 117.6 116.0 -3.9 -1.4 -.5 0 -1.4 07-21 | Plastic construction products 2/....................| 128.1 126.5 126.8 -.5 .2 -1.0 -.2 .2 07-22 | Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes.....| 131.3 130.2 129.3 -1.4 -.7 -1.1 .2 -.5 07-26 | Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.1 117.1 117.4 0 .3 .1 -.1 .3 08-11 | Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 196.2 194.4 193.8 -7.9 -.3 -2.5 1.4 -.3 08-12 | Hardwood lumber 2/..................................| 177.8 179.9 179.5 4.8 -.2 .8 -.1 -.2 08-2 | Millwork 2/.........................................| 170.8 170.8 170.7 .2 -.1 -.1 .1 -.1 08-3 | Plywood 2/..........................................| 157.9 153.6 151.4 -7.5 -1.4 -.6 .5 -1.4 09-11 | Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 132.8 126.5 125.3 .6 -.9 -.6 -4.5 -.9 09-13 | Paper...............................................| 146.5 148.0 147.5 4.8 -.3 1.2 -.3 .1 09-14 | Paperboard..........................................| 154.4 156.5 156.0 11.7 -.3 1.4 -.1 .8 09-15-03 | Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 148.2 153.7 156.3 8.1 1.7 1.4 -.2 1.7 09-2 | Building paper and board 2/.........................| 133.8 131.6 127.1 -2.9 -3.4 -5.4 3.4 -3.4 09-37 | Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 150.9 151.3 151.5 2.8 .1 0 .1 .1 10-15 | Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 134.0 134.9 135.0 .5 .1 .2 -.2 -.1 10-17 | Steel mill products 2/..............................| 116.6 116.2 115.9 -.2 -.3 .1 -.1 -.3 10-22 | Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 120.4 113.1 110.9 -14.9 -1.9 -3.3 .1 -1.9 10-25-01 | Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 149.7 146.6 145.9 -1.2 -.5 -1.3 -.6 -.5 10-25-02 | Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 168.3 160.3 159.6 -13.0 -.4 -4.2 -.3 -.4 10-26 | Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 145.3 141.7 142.4 -4.7 .5 -.6 -1.1 .5 10-3 | Metal containers 2/.................................| 108.9 108.9 109.4 1.1 .5 0 1.1 .5 10-4 | Hardware............................................| 146.0 146.6 146.7 1.0 .1 -.1 .1 -.1 10-5 | Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 174.7 175.5 175.8 .7 .2 -.1 -.6 -.2 10-6 | Heating equipment...................................| 153.0 154.4 153.4 .9 -.6 -.3 -.1 -.5 10-7 | Fabricated structural metal products................| 141.3 141.6 141.9 1.9 .2 0 .1 .1 10-88 | Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 129.0 129.4 129.7 1.9 .2 .2 .2 .2 10-89 | Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 126.3 126.4 126.5 .2 .1 .1 0 .1 11-45 | Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 155.3 156.9 156.9 1.6 0 -.3 .1 .1 11-48 | Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 132.6 133.0 133.1 .3 .1 .1 -.3 -.1 11-49-02 | Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 154.1 154.9 155.7 2.4 .5 .1 .4 .5 11-49-05 | Ball and roller bearings............................| 163.3 164.8 164.8 1.0 0 -.1 -.1 0 11-71 | Wiring devices......................................| 154.6 154.7 154.2 .9 -.3 -.3 -.1 -.4 11-73 | Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 144.5 144.3 144.9 .3 .4 .2 -.5 .4 11-75 | Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 147.1 147.5 147.0 1.5 -.3 -.1 .2 -.5 11-78 | Electronic components and accessories 2/............| 101.6 101.1 101.1 -4.4 0 -.4 -.5 0 11-94 | Internal combustion engines.........................| 140.4 140.2 140.3 .4 .1 -.4 -.1 .1 11-95 | Machine shop products 2/............................| 135.6 135.8 135.6 .5 -.1 .1 .3 -.1 13-11 | Flat glass 2/.......................................| 108.5 107.5 107.4 -.7 -.1 -.1 -.8 -.1 13-22 | Cement..............................................| 140.6 141.0 140.9 3.3 -.1 .1 .3 .3 13-3 | Concrete products...................................| 136.7 137.6 137.7 1.7 .1 0 .4 0 13-6 | Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................| 99.2 98.5 98.4 -1.0 -.1 -.1 -.2 -.1 13-7 | Gypsum products 2/..................................| 172.9 171.6 172.1 2.3 .3 -.2 -.1 .3 13-8 | Glass containers 2/.................................| 125.9 125.9 125.9 0 0 0 0 0 14-12 | Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 115.2 114.7 114.7 -.9 0 -.4 .3 0 14-23 | Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 134.8 135.3 135.7 -1.4 .3 -.4 -.1 .3 14-25 | Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 141.2 141.5 140.9 -.6 -.4 .4 .7 -.4 15-42 | Photographic supplies 2/............................| 130.6 128.9 128.0 -1.0 -.7 -1.4 .1 -.7 15-6 | Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 143.1 144.1 144.1 .9 0 .1 .2 -.1 | | | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 114.7 100.4 99.2 -7.8 -1.2 -4.5 -2.5 -1.6 | | | CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 110.4 105.1 106.6 -6.6 1.4 -3.3 -.7 .7 | | 01-21 | Wheat 2/............................................| 101.8 95.8 97.5 -13.9 1.8 -6.3 1.2 1.8 01-22-02-05| Corn................................................| 106.7 106.7 109.2 -9.2 2.3 -7.2 -.8 -2.6 01-31 | Slaughter cattle....................................| 98.5 91.8 95.1 -5.4 3.6 -2.8 -4.8 3.7 01-32 | Slaughter hogs......................................| 74.4 58.5 56.7 -28.9 -3.1 -19.6 -2.3 -5.8 01-41-02 | Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 122.7 124.7 134.7 9.2 8.0 6.2 4.9 8.2 01-42 | Slaughter turkeys...................................| 123.2 88.5 95.7 -3.7 8.1 -2.6 -2.0 5.5 01-6 | Fluid milk..........................................| 104.1 105.9 105.0 6.4 -.8 2.2 1.2 -.6 01-83-01-31| Soybeans 2/.........................................| 124.5 116.9 113.3 -21.8 -3.1 -3.9 3.3 -3.1 02-52-01-01| Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 116.4 116.4 115.7 -.5 -.6 0 -.1 -.6 | | | CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 113.4 93.5 90.5 -9.0 -3.2 -5.5 -3.9 -3.3 | | 01-51-01-01| Raw cotton..........................................| 114.6 108.0 110.1 -10.1 1.9 -5.6 3.4 -3.6 01-92-01-01| Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 108.5 115.2 104.3 -6.6 -9.5 -1.6 4.0 -9.5 04-11 | Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 190.3 154.6 145.4 -31.3 -6.0 -16.3 -1.4 -6.0 05-1 | Coal 2/.............................................| 94.4 93.1 94.3 -2.5 1.3 0 -3.2 1.3 05-31 | Natural gas 2/......................................| 127.3 84.0 84.9 8.2 1.1 -6.9 -10.0 1.1 05-61 | Crude petroleum 2/..................................| 56.4 43.3 35.9 -36.2 -17.1 -12.8 -2.3 -17.1 08-5 | Logs, timber, etc...................................| 212.1 213.9 214.7 -.7 .4 -.8 -1.4 .8 09-12 | Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 164.8 164.1 162.4 4.2 -1.0 -1.0 .6 -1.0 10-11 | Iron ore 2/.........................................| 95.2 95.2 95.2 -4.5 0 (3) 0 0 10-12 | Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 196.0 193.4 185.4 -.3 -4.1 .1 -2.3 -4.1 10-21 | Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............| 73.9 69.9 68.5 -22.0 -2.0 -1.6 5.1 -2.0 10-23-01 | Copper base scrap 2/................................| 140.6 122.7 123.4 -26.4 .6 -9.2 .4 .6 10-23-02 | Aluminum base scrap.................................| 193.0 184.6 182.1 -9.9 -1.4 -6.1 -3.6 -1.4 13-21 | Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 148.7 150.7 151.0 2.4 .2 .1 .7 .1 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ The indexes for November 1997 have been recalculated 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents. 3/ Not available. All indexes are subject to revision four months after original publication. Table 3. Producer Price Indexes for selected commodity groupings (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | Unadjusted index 1/ | Commodity| |___________________________________| code | Grouping | Nov. 1997 | Feb. 1998 |March 1998 | _________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________| | | | | | | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................| 369.7 | 365.1 | 364.0 | | All commodities................................| 127.9 | 125.1 | 124.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS | | | | | | | | | | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....| 126.2 | 123.4 | 123.2 | 01 | Farm products................................| 111.0 | 106.2 | 107.5 | 02 | Processed foods and feeds....................| 133.7 | 131.8 | 131.0 | | | | | | | Industrial commodities.........................| 128.2 | 125.4 | 124.7 | 03 | Textile products and apparel.................| 122.9 | 123.2 | 123.1 | 04 | Hides, skins, leather, and related products..| 154.3 | 148.5 | 147.2 | 05 | Fuels and related products and power 2/......| 87.3 | 76.8 | 74.7 | 06 | Chemicals and allied products 2/.............| 143.6 | 143.1 | 142.6 | 07 | Rubber and plastic products..................| 123.3 | 122.9 | 123.0 | 08 | Lumber and wood products.....................| 181.8 | 182.3 | 181.9 | 09 | Pulp, paper, and allied products.............| 170.4 | 172.1 | 172.1 | 10 | Metals and metal products....................| 131.3 | 130.2 | 129.7 | 11 | Machinery and equipment......................| 125.5 | 125.4 | 125.3 | 12 | Furniture and household durables.............| 130.8 | 131.1 | 131.0 | 13 | Nonmetallic mineral products.................| 133.6 | 134.0 | 134.0 | 14 | Transportation equipment.....................| 141.9 | 141.2 | 141.2 | 15 | Miscellaneous products.......................| 152.4 | 153.6 | 153.5 | | | | | | | Industrial commodities less fuels and related | | | | | products and power...........................| 139.4 | 139.3 | 139.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS | | | | | | | | | 01-1 | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables, | | | | | and tree nuts................................| 112.8 | 122.1 | 120.7 | 01-2 | Grains.........................................| 107.1 | 105.2 | 107.2 | 01-3 | Slaughter livestock............................| 93.1 | 83.6 | 85.4 | 01-4 | Slaughter poultry..............................| 122.3 | 116.1 | 125.3 | 01-5 | Plant and animal fibers........................| 115.5 | 108.1 | 110.1 | 01-7 | Chicken eggs...................................| 148.5 | 103.2 | 118.5 | 01-8 | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................| 146.8 | 139.5 | 135.9 | 01-83 | Oilseeds.......................................| 134.8 | 126.9 | 123.4 | 01-9 | Other farm products............................| 161.7 | 171.8 | 155.6 | 02-1 | Cereal and bakery products.....................| 157.9 | 157.4 | 157.8 | 02-2 | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................| 116.9 | 113.3 | 111.2 | 02-22 | Processed poultry..............................| 116.0 | 114.7 | 116.7 | 02-5 | Sugar and confectionery........................| 135.3 | 134.6 | 134.6 | 02-6 | Beverages and beverage materials...............| 136.8 | 137.9 | 138.1 | 02-63 | Packaged beverage materials....................| 147.1 | 146.5 | 146.7 | 02-7 | Fats and oils..................................| 137.7 | 138.6 | 139.3 | 03-81 | Apparel........................................| 126.0 | 125.9 | 125.9 | 04-4 | Other leather and related products.............| 144.4 | 144.8 | 144.9 | 05-3 | Gas fuels 2/...................................| 114.8 | 79.8 | 79.3 | 05-4 | Electric power.................................| 128.0 | 127.2 | 126.5 | 05-7 | Refined petroleum products.....................| 66.3 | 54.6 | 50.8 | 06-3 | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................| 221.2 | 223.6 | 224.7 | 06-5 | Agricultural chemicals and products............| 131.2 | 129.9 | 129.4 | 06-7 | Other chemicals and allied products............| 133.9 | 134.1 | 133.9 | 07-1 | Rubber and rubber products.....................| 115.5 | 115.4 | 115.2 | 07-11 | Rubber, except natural rubber..................| 117.8 | 117.0 | 115.4 | 07-13 | Miscellaneous rubber products..................| 138.3 | 138.5 | 138.6 | 07-2 | Plastic products...............................| 130.2 | 129.7 | 129.9 | 08-1 | Lumber.........................................| 188.5 | 187.9 | 187.4 | 09-1 | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building | | | | | paper and board..............................| 147.7 | 149.0 | 149.4 | 09-15 | Converted paper and paperboard products........| 150.0 | 152.1 | 153.4 | 10-1 | Iron and steel.................................| 127.2 | 126.8 | 125.9 | 10-2 | Nonferrous metals..............................| 132.7 | 128.2 | 127.1 | 10-25 | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................| 144.4 | 141.4 | 140.6 | 11-3 | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........| 145.8 | 146.9 | 147.2 | 11-4 | General purpose machinery and equipment........| 145.5 | 146.2 | 146.4 | 11-6 | Special industry machinery.....................| 157.5 | 158.2 | 158.5 | 11-7 | Electrical machinery and equipment.............| 121.8 | 121.7 | 121.7 | 11-9 | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........| 131.4 | 131.5 | 131.5 | 12-6 | Other household durable goods..................| 149.6 | 150.5 | 150.9 | 13-2 | Concrete ingredients...........................| 143.2 | 144.6 | 144.8 | 14-1 | Motor vehicles and equipment...................| 133.1 | 131.9 | 131.9 | 15-1 | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........| 131.6 | 132.1 | 132.1 | 15-4 | Photographic equipment and supplies............| 117.5 | 117.2 | 115.9 | 15-9 | Other miscellaneous products...................| 133.5 | 134.1 | 134.4 | __________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________| 1/ Data for November 1997 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. All data are subject to revision four months after original publication. 2/ Prices of some items in this grouping are lagged 1 month. Table 4. Producer Price Indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | Index | Percent change Industry | Industry 1/ |Index|_______________________|to_Mar._1998_from:__ code | |base | | | | | | | |Nov. |Feb. |Mar. | Mar. | Feb. | | |1997 2/|1998 2/|1998 2/| 1997 | 1998 __________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|___________ | | | |Total mining industries...................... |12/84| 93.2 74.5 72.0 -8.6 -3.4 10 | Metal mining................................ |12/84| 78.9 75.8 74.6 -17.9 -1.6 12 | Coal mining................................. |12/85| 91.0 89.7 90.3 -2.7 .7 13 | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 98.0 73.2 69.7 -9.8 -4.8 14 | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic | | | minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 129.7 131.0 131.3 2.8 .2 | | | |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 127.5 126.2 125.7 -1.6 -.4 20 | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 127.5 126.1 125.5 -2.0 -.5 21 | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 219.3 223.8 223.8 10.1 0 22 | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 119.0 119.6 119.6 .7 0 23 | Apparel and other finished products made | | | from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 124.2 124.4 124.5 1.1 .1 24 | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 158.2 158.6 157.9 -.9 -.4 25 | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 138.9 139.6 139.7 1.5 .1 26 | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 135.9 137.3 137.8 4.0 .4 27 | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 171.1 173.1 173.0 3.0 -.1 28 | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 147.3 147.4 146.9 0 -.3 29 | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84| 83.6 70.6 65.9 -24.5 -6.7 30 | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 122.8 122.6 122.6 .2 0 31 | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 137.9 137.5 137.4 .1 -.1 32 | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 127.8 128.0 128.0 .7 0 33 | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 124.5 123.1 122.9 -1.5 -.2 34 | Fabricated metal products, except machinery | | | and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 128.2 128.5 128.6 1.2 .1 35 | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 118.0 118.0 117.9 -1.0 -.1 36 | Electrical and electronic machinery, | | | equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 110.8 110.6 110.6 -1.4 0 37 | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 134.4 133.8 133.8 -1.1 0 38 | Measuring and controlling instruments; | | | photographic, medical, optical goods; | | | watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.8 126.4 126.3 .6 -.1 39 | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 129.1 129.7 129.6 .5 -.1 | | | |Services industries | | 40 | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 100.9 101.1 101.9 1.8 .8 42 | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 109.0 110.8 110.6 1.8 -.2 43 | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3 132.3 132.3 0 0 44 | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 104.1 101.9 102.3 -1.7 .4 45 | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 123.4 123.7 124.8 .2 .9 46 | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86| 98.7 99.3 99.3 .5 0 80 | Health services............................. |12/94| 106.2 107.1 107.2 1.2 .1 81 | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 103.7 104.2 105.1 3.0 .9 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes shown in table 5. Because of differences in coverage and aggregation methodology, they will generally not match the movements of similarly-titled indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings shown in table 6. 2/ The indexes for November 1997 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are subject to revision four months after original publication. 3/ Not available. Table 5. Producer Price Indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted (1982=100) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | Index 1/ |________________________________________________________ Grouping | | | | | | | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | 1997 | 1997 | 1997 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 _______________________________________________________|_________|________|________|________|________|_________ Finished goods...................................| 131.8 131.6 131.4 130.5 130.4 130.0 Finished consumer goods........................| 130.3 130.0 129.8 128.7 128.5 128.0 Finished consumer foods......................| 134.7 134.3 134.1 133.5 134.1 133.6 Crude......................................| 132.9 129.2 132.4 128.7 130.4 130.6 Processed..................................| 134.8 134.6 134.2 133.9 134.3 133.8 Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....| 128.2 128.0 127.8 126.4 126.0 125.4 Nondurable goods less foods................| 124.3 124.2 123.9 122.1 121.5 120.8 Durable goods..............................| 133.7 133.3 133.4 133.1 133.0 132.9 Capital equipment..............................| 138.0 137.9 137.8 137.7 137.6 137.6 Manufacturing industries.....................| 137.6 137.6 137.6 137.8 137.8 137.9 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 138.1 137.9 137.8 137.6 137.4 137.5 | Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.| 125.4 125.6 125.3 124.5 124.2 123.6 Materials and components for manufacturing.....| 128.0 128.2 128.0 127.5 127.4 127.0 Materials for food manufacturing.............| 122.1 124.1 123.0 120.3 122.5 121.4 Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......| 129.9 130.0 130.1 130.0 129.3 128.6 Materials for durable manufacturing..........| 132.3 132.1 131.4 130.5 130.6 129.9 Components for manufacturing.................| 126.0 126.1 126.0 125.9 125.9 125.9 Materials and components for construction......| 146.5 146.7 146.7 146.4 146.6 146.6 Processed fuels and lubricants.................| 88.6 88.7 87.3 84.8 83.8 81.7 Manufacturing industries ....................| 91.9 92.2 90.6 88.3 88.1 86.3 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 86.5 86.4 85.2 82.6 81.2 78.9 Containers.....................................| 136.4 138.0 139.5 140.5 140.6 142.1 Supplies.......................................| 135.9 136.1 136.0 135.4 135.2 134.9 Manufacturing industries.....................| 140.1 140.3 140.3 140.3 140.4 140.6 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 133.7 134.0 133.8 133.0 132.7 132.3 Feeds......................................| 122.3 123.8 122.8 116.0 111.1 107.4 Other supplies.............................| 135.3 135.5 135.3 135.3 135.4 135.5 | Crude materials for further processing...........| 113.2 115.0 108.2 103.3 100.7 99.1 Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................| 110.7 110.6 110.4 106.8 106.0 106.7 Nonfood materials..............................| 110.7 113.8 102.7 97.1 93.3 90.2 Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............| 103.3 102.4 98.8 93.1 92.4 86.4 Manufacturing 2/...........................| 94.7 93.8 90.2 84.8 84.2 78.5 Construction...............................| 201.8 201.2 200.5 199.6 197.4 198.3 Crude fuel 3/................................| 112.9 122.7 99.9 94.9 87.1 88.2 Manufacturing industries...................| 108.7 117.4 97.0 92.0 85.2 85.7 Nonmanufacturing industries................| 115.5 125.7 101.9 96.8 88.8 90.0 | Special groupings | | Finished goods, excluding foods..................| 130.9 130.7 130.5 129.5 129.2 128.8 Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......| 125.6 125.7 125.4 124.8 124.5 124.0 Intermediate foods and feeds.....................| 122.4 124.3 123.2 119.2 119.1 117.2 Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....| 110.3 113.5 102.2 96.6 92.5 89.5 | Finished energy goods............................| 82.7 82.4 81.8 78.8 77.4 75.9 Finished goods less energy.......................| 140.5 140.3 140.2 139.9 140.1 140.0 Finished consumer goods less energy..............| 141.4 141.1 141.0 140.7 141.1 140.9 | Finished goods less foods and energy.............| 142.6 142.5 142.5 142.3 142.5 142.5 Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....| 145.6 145.5 145.5 145.3 145.5 145.6 Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..| 154.4 154.5 154.4 154.3 154.8 155.0 | Intermediate energy goods........................| 88.3 88.3 87.0 84.5 83.5 81.5 Intermediate materials less energy...............| 133.6 133.8 133.7 133.3 133.2 133.0 Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....| 134.3 134.4 134.4 134.2 134.1 134.0 | Crude energy materials 2/........................| 92.8 97.1 83.4 77.3 72.3 69.2 Crude materials less energy......................| 122.4 122.2 121.4 117.9 117.4 117.1 Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........| 156.6 156.0 153.6 150.2 150.4 147.5 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ All seasonally adjusted indexes are subject to change up to five years after original publication due to the recalculation of seasonal factors each January. The indexes for November 1997 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents. 2/ Includes crude petroleum. 3/ Excludes crude petroleum. Technical Notes Brief Explanation of Producer Price Indexes Producer price indexes (PPI) measure average changes in prices received by domestic producers of commodities in all stages of processing. Most of the information used in calculating the indexes is obtained through the systematic sampling of nearly every industry in the manufacturing and mining sectors of the economy. The PPI program also includes some information from other sectors--agriculture, fishing, forestry, services, and gas and electricity. Because producer price indexes are designed to measure only the change in prices received for the output of domestic industries, imports are not included. The sample currently contains about 3,200 commodities and 80,000 quotations per month. There are three primary systems of indexes within the PPI program: (1) Stage of processing indexes; (2) commodity indexes; and (3) indexes for the net output of industries and their products. The stage-of-processing structure (tables 1 and 2) organizes products by class of buyer and degree of processing. The commodity structure (tables 2 and 3) organizes products by similarity of end-use or material composition. The entire output of various industries is sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of industries and their products (table 4). Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods are commodities that will not undergo further processing and are ready for sale to the final demand user, either an individual consumer or business firm. Consumer foods include unprocessed foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables, as well as processed foods such as bakery products and meats. Other finished consumer goods include durable goods such as automobiles, household furniture, and appliances, and nondurable goods such as apparel and home heating oil. Capital equipment includes producer durable goods such as heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine tools. The stage-of-processing category for intermediate materials, supplies, and components consists partly of commodities that have been processed but require further processing. Examples of such semifinished goods include flour, cotton yarn, steel mill products, and lumber. The intermediate goods category also encompasses nondurable, physically complete items purchased by business firms as inputs for their operations. Examples include diesel fuel, belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers. Crude materials for further processing are products entering the market for the first time that have not been manufactured or fabricated and that are not sold directly to consumers. Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs include items such as grains and livestock. Examples of crude nonfood materials include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides and skins, and iron and steel scrap. Producer price indexes for the net output of industries and their products are grouped according to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and the Census product code extension of the SIC. Industry price indexes are compatible with other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such as data on employment, wages, and productivity. Table 4 lists indexes for the net output of major mining and manufacturing industry groups at the 2-digit level. Producer price indexes are based on selling prices reported by establishments of all sizes selected by probability sampling, with the probability of selection proportionate to size. Individual items and transaction terms from these firms are also chosen by probability proportionate to size. BLS strongly encourages cooperating companies to supply actual transaction prices at the time of shipment to minimize the use of list prices. Prices are normally reported by mail questionnaire for the Tuesday of the week containing the 13th. Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to individual company price reports. All producer price indexes are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months after original publication, to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. Net output values of shipments are used as weights for industry indexes. Net output values refer to the value of shipments from establishments in one industry to establishments classified in another industry. However, weights for commodity price indexes are based on gross shipment values, including shipment values between establishments within the same industry. As a result, broad commodity grouping indexes such as the all commodities index are affected by the multiple counting of price change at successive stages of processing, which can lead to exaggerated or misleading signals about inflation. Stage-of- processing indexes partially correct this defect, but industry indexes consistently correct for this at all levels of aggregation. Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings for economic analysis of general price trends. Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings, currently reflect 1987 values of shipments as reported in the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January 1987 through December 1991, PPI weights were derived from 1982 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are also now calculated with 1987 net output weights. Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many important PPI series (including stage-of-processing groupings and most commodity groups and individual items) were placed on a new reference base, 1982=100, to coincide with the reference year of the shipment weights. From 1971 through 1987, the standard reference base for most PPI series was 1967=100. Except for rounding differences, the shift to the new reference base did not alter any changes to previously published percent changes for affected PPI series. (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.) The new reference base is not used for indexes with a base later than December 1981, nor for indexes for the net output of industries and their products. For further information on the underlying concepts and methodology of the Producer Price Index, see chapter 16, "Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (September 1992), Bulletin 2414. Reprints are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on request. Calculating Index Changes Movements of price indexes from one month to another are usually expressed as percent changes rather than as changes in index points because index point chances are affected by the level of the index in relation to its base period, while percent changes are not. The box shows the computation of index point and percent changes. Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods can be expressed as annual rates that are computed according to the standard formula for compound growth rates. These data indicate what the percent change would be if the rate for a given 3- or 6-month span were maintained for a 12-month period. Index Point Change Finished Goods Price Index 107.5 Less previous index 104.0 Equals index point change 3.5 Index Percent Change Index point change 3.5 Divided by the previous index 104.0 Equals 0.034 Result multiplied by 100 0.034 x 100 Equals percent change 3.4 Each index measures price changes from a reference period which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). An increase of 5.5 percent from the reference period in the Finished Goods Price Index, for example, is shown as 105.5. This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows: "Prices received by domestic producers of a systematic sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to $105.50 to-day." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would indicate that prices received by producers of finished goods today are 10 percent lower than they were in 1982. Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each month. Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing general price trends in the economy because they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at about the same time and in about the same magnitude every year-such as price movements resulting from normal weather patterns, regular production and marketing cycles, model changeovers, seasonal discounts, and holidays. For these reasons, seasonally adjusted data more clearly reveal underlying cyclical trends. Unadjusted data are of primary interest to users who need information which can be related to actual dollar values of transactions. Individuals requiring this information include marketing specialists, purchasing agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and commodity traders. It is the unadjusted data that are generally cited in escalating long-term contracts such as purchasing agreements or real estate leases. (See Escalation and Producer Price Indexes: A Guide for Contracting Parties, BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from BLS.) For more information, see "Appendix A: Seasonal Adjustment Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of Methods (September 1992), Bulletin 2414.