FOR DATA ONLY: (202) 691-5200 USDL 03-720 FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN (202) 691-7705 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 691-5902 UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST), FRIDAY, http://www.bls.gov/ppi NOVEMBER 14, 2003 Producer Price Indexes -- October 2003 The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the seasonally adjusted Producer Price Index for Finished Goods advanced 0.8 percent in October. This gain followed a 0.3- percent rise in September and a 0.4-percent increase in August. Rising prices for beef and veal, light motor trucks, and passenger cars led the increase in the finished goods index in October. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by the manufacturers of intermediate goods went up 0.4 percent, after edging down 0.1 percent in the prior month. The rate of increase in the index for crude materials slowed from 3.4 percent in September to 2.6 percent in October. (See table A.) Table A. Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-processing price indexes, seasonally adjusted ______________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | Finished goods | | | | | | | | | |---------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | Change in | | | | | | | | Except |finished goods| Inter- | | | | | | |foods and|from 12 months| mediate | Crude | | Month | Total | Foods | Energy | energy | ago(unadj.) | goods | goods | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 2002 Oct. 0.8 0.4 3.4 0.3 0.7 0.7 2.2 Nov. -.3 .4 -1.6 -.1 1.0 -.1 3.7 Dec. -.3 .4 .2 -.6 1.2 -.1 2.0 2003 Jan. 1.4 1.9 4.6 .3 2.5 1.2 7.6 Feb. 1.1 .4 7.4 -.1 3.3 2.0 5.2 Mar. 1.4 .2 5.4 .7 4.0 2.1 13.0 Apr. -1.7 .8 -8.1 -.7 2.4 -2.3 -15.8 May -.4 .1 -2.9 .1 2.5 -.7 1.4 June r .5 .3 r 2.9 -.1 2.9 .5 r 4.4 July r .2 -.2 r .7 .2 3.0 r .1 r -2.7 Aug. .4 .7 1.2 .1 3.4 .5 -1.4 Sept. .3 1.2 .1 0 3.5 -.1 3.4 Oct. .8 2.2 -.1 .5 3.4 .4 2.6 r=revised. Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ from those previously reported because data for June 2003 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. -2- Among finished goods, prices for finished consumer foods moved up 2.2 percent in October, compared with a 1.2-percent increase in the previous month. (Excluding beef and veal, the finished goods index would have risen 0.5 percent in October.) The index for finished goods other than foods and energy rose 0.5 percent, after showing no change in September. (Excluding passenger cars and light trucks, prices for finished goods other than foods and energy would have risen 0.2 percent in October.) By contrast, prices for finished energy goods inched down 0.1 percent in October, following a 0.1-percent gain a month earlier. Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 1.1 percent in October to 145.5 (1982=100). From October 2002 to October 2003, prices for finished goods advanced 3.4 percent. Over the same period, the index for finished consumer foods rose 8.5 percent, finished energy goods prices went up 9.2 percent, and the index for finished goods other than foods and energy climbed 0.5 percent. Prices for intermediate goods moved up 3.4 percent, and the crude goods index jumped 22.8 percent. Table B. Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted __________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | Intermediate goods | Crude goods | | | | | | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | |Change in | | | | Change | | | | | | interme- | | | |in crude | | | | | | diate | | | | goods | | | | | |goods from| | | | from 12 | | | | | Except |12 months | | | Except | months | | | | |foods and| ago | | Energy |foods and| ago | |Month | Foods | Energy | energy | (unadj.) | Foods | (unadj.)| energy |(unadj.) | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 2002 Oct. -0.3 3.4 0.2 1.6 0.2 5.1 0.3 15.4 Nov. .5 -1.2 .1 2.4 1.1 7.8 1.4 13.7 Dec. 1.0 -.5 -.1 3.2 1.3 3.3 .2 24.7 2003 Jan. 1.5 5.6 .4 4.5 5.3 13.0 1.3 28.7 Feb. .7 7.9 .7 6.6 .7 9.9 3.4 36.7 Mar. -.3 10.2 .4 8.0 -1.8 30.1 -.3 46.8 Apr. .1 -11.0 -.2 4.6 1.2 -30.7 -1.1 18.2 May 1.1 -4.4 0 4.2 2.0 1.9 -.7 19.1 June 1.8 r 2.9 0 4.5 r -.4 r 10.5 r -.1 r 29.1 July -.4 r .5 -.1 4.4 r -3.4 r -3.3 r .2 24.5 Aug. .2 2.4 .1 4.4 3.7 -7.4 3.7 20.9 Sept. 2.3 -2.3 .1 3.7 7.0 .6 2.3 22.3 Oct. 3.1 .6 .3 3.4 8.9 -3.6 3.1 22.8 r=revised. Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ from those previously reported because data for June 2003 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. -3- Finished goods Prices for finished consumer foods rose 2.2 percent in October, compared with a 1.2-percent gain in the preceding month. An 18.3-percent upsurge in October's beef and veal index followed a 4.2-percent increase in September and led the acceleration in the finished consumer foods index. Prices for fresh fruits and melons, processed young chickens, shortening and cooking oils, processed fruits and vegetables, and confectionery end products turned up, following decreases in September. On the other hand, the fresh and dry vegetables index dropped 9.1 percent in October, after advancing 20.7 percent in the previous month. The finfish and shellfish index also turned down, following a gain in the prior month. Prices for dairy products, pork, soft drinks, and eggs for fresh use grew at slower rates than they did in September. Prices for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.6 percent in October, after inching up 0.1 percent in the previous month. The index for light motor trucks increased 3.4 percent, compared with a 0.1-percent gain in September. For the 12 months ended in October 2003, light motor truck prices increased 1.7 percent. The passenger car index advanced 1.6 percent in October, following a 0.5- percent decline in September. From October 2002 to October 2003, prices for passenger cars fell 0.4 percent. In accordance with usual practice, most new model year passenger cars and light trucks were introduced into the PPI in October. (See Report on Quality Changes for 2004 Model Vehicles, USDL 03-721.) Prices for book publishing, men's and boys' apparel, and floor coverings turned up, after falling a month earlier. The indexes for cigarettes and newspaper circulation moved up at a faster pace than they did in the preceding month. Alternatively, prices for soaps and synthetic detergents fell 0.2 percent in October, following a 0.6-percent increase in the prior month. Prices for toys, games, and children's vehicles also declined, after rising a month earlier. The indexes for pharmaceutical preparations and mobile homes rose less than they did in September. The capital equipment index climbed 0.6 percent in October, compared with a 0.1-percent decline in the previous month. Prices for light motor trucks, passenger cars, and communication and related equipment accounted for most of this upturn. The rate of increase in prices for light motor trucks rose from 0.1 percent in September to 3.4 percent in October. The indexes for passenger cars, communication and related equipment, and pumps and compressors turned up, following decreases a month earlier. Agricultural machinery and equipment prices advanced at a quicker rate in October than they did in the prior month. The index for heavy motor trucks went up, after showing no change in September. Conversely, prices for integrating and measuring instruments, electronic computers, and metal cutting machine tools fell, after showing no change in the preceding month. The index for civilian aircraft rose less in October than it did in the prior month, while prices for x-ray and electromedical equipment moved down at a faster pace than they did in September. The index for finished energy goods edged down 0.1 percent in October, after increasing by the same magnitude a month earlier. Prices for gasoline fell 3.0 percent, following a 2.2-percent rise in September. The index for residential natural gas also turned down, after moving up in the previous month. On the other hand, prices for home heating oil rebounded 9.6 percent in October, compared with a 14.3-percent drop in the prior month. The indexes for liquefied petroleum gas, diesel fuel, and kerosene also turned up, after falling in the preceding month. Residential electric power prices advanced more in October than they did a month earlier. -4- Intermediate goods The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and Components increased 0.4 percent in October, compared with a 0.1-percent decrease in September. Prices for intermediate energy goods and materials for nondurable manufacturing turned up in October, following declines in the preceding month, while the index for intermediate foods and feeds went up at a faster rate than it did in September. On the other hand, prices for materials and components for construction and for materials for durable manufacturing rose more slowly in October than they did a month earlier. Excluding foods and energy, intermediate goods prices climbed 0.3 percent, after inching up 0.1 percent in the prior month. (See table B.) The index for intermediate energy goods advanced 0.6 percent in October, following a 2.3-percent decrease in September. Contributing heavily to this reversal, prices for diesel fuel jumped 18.4 percent, following a 17.0-percent drop in the previous month, and the index for jet fuels increased 8.6 percent, after falling 17.4 percent a month earlier. The indexes for home heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas also turned up in October. Prices for industrial electric power and commercial electric power rose more quickly than they did in September, while the index for residual fuels declined at a slower pace in October than it did in the preceding month. By contrast, gasoline prices fell 3.0 percent, compared with a 2.2-percent gain in September. The index for commercial natural gas also moved down in October, after rising in the prior month. Prices for industrial natural gas and natural gas to electric utilities decreased more than they did in September. The index for materials for nondurable manufacturing climbed 0.7 percent in October, after posting a 1.2-percent decline a month earlier. Prices for primary basic organic chemicals advanced 2.4 percent, after falling 0.8 percent in September. The indexes for gray fabrics, inedible fats and oils, and woodpulp also moved up, following decreases in the preceding month. Paperboard prices went down at a slower rate in October than they did in September. The index for plastic resins and materials rose at a quicker pace than it did in the previous month. On the other hand, prices for intermediate basic organic chemicals moved down 0.5 percent, compared with a 2.7-percent gain in the prior month. The indexes for basic inorganic chemicals and nitrogenates increased less in October than they did in the prior month, while paper prices fell more than they did in September. Subsequent to a 2.3-percent advance in September, the index for intermediate foods and feeds moved up 3.1 percent in October. Price increases for beef and veal led this acceleration, rising 18.3 percent in October after posting a 4.2-percent increase a month earlier. The indexes for shortening and cooking oils, refined sugar and sugar byproducts, processed young chickens, and for natural, processed, and imitation cheese turned up in October. By contrast, prices for prepared animal feeds rose 1.1 percent, after registering a 4.4-percent gain in the preceding month. The index for fluid milk products also advanced less in October than it did in September. Prices for crude vegetable oils fell more in October than they did in the previous month, and the index for confectionery materials turned down, after rising in September. Prices for materials and components for construction went up 0.3 percent in October, following a 0.9-percent rise a month earlier. The plywood index climbed 5.4 percent, compared with a 17.1-percent advance in the prior month. Price increases for millwork and for prefabricated wood buildings and components also slowed in October. The indexes for softwood lumber, hardwood lumber, treated wood, and gypsum products fell, after moving up in September. Prices for paving mixtures and blocks declined at a quicker rate in October than they did in the previous month. On the other hand, the index for concrete products edged up 0.1 percent, following a 0.4-percent decrease in September. Prices for wiring devices also turned up. The indexes for steel mill products and plastic construction products rose at a quicker pace in October than they did a month earlier. -5- Prices for materials for durable manufacturing advanced 0.6 percent in October, after posting a 0.9-percent increase in September. The indexes for plywood, building paper and board, and cold-rolled steel sheet and strip rose less than they did in the preceding month. Prices for refined gold, refined silver, industrial and other fabricated textile products, hardwood lumber, and for adhesives and sealants moved down in October, following gains a month earlier. Conversely, the index for primary aluminum (except extrusion billet) jumped 4.5 percent, compared with a 1.4- percent decline in September. Prices for semifinished steel mill products and prepared paint also turned up in October. The indexes for hot-rolled bars, plates, and structural shapes; hot-rolled steel sheet and strip; and copper cathode and refined copper advanced more than they did in the prior month. Crude goods The rate of increase for the Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing slowed from 3.4 percent in September to 2.6 percent in October. Rising prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs and for crude nonfood materials less energy outweighed price declines for crude energy materials. (See table B.) The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs climbed 8.9 percent in October, after increasing 7.0 percent in September. Prices for slaughter cattle jumped 20.4 percent, compared with an 11.0-percent gain in the prior month. Fluid milk prices also rose more rapidly in October than they did in the previous month. The indexes for slaughter broilers and fryers and for fresh fruits and melons turned up in October, after falling a month earlier. On the other hand, the corn index dropped 12.2 percent, following a 12.8-percent increase in September. Prices for fresh and dry vegetables and slaughter hogs also turned down, after advancing in the prior month. The index for slaughter turkeys rose at a slower pace in October than it did in September. Prices for basic industrial materials moved up 3.1 percent, following a 2.3-percent rise in September. The raw cotton index jumped 23.5 percent in October, after posting a 5.6-percent gain a month earlier. The indexes for copper base scrap, wastepaper, and for hides and skins increased at faster rates in October than they did in September. Prices for aluminum base scrap turned up, following declines in the previous month. By contrast, prices for gold ores turned down 0.6 percent, after advancing 6.7 percent in the prior month. The indexes for construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone and for iron and steel scrap rose less quickly from September to October. Prices for hardwood logs, bolts, and timber declined, after showing no change in September. Subsequent to a 0.6-percent gain in September, the index for crude energy materials moved down 3.6 percent in October. Natural gas prices decreased 9.4 percent in October, following a 5.4-percent rise in the prior month. The coal index exhibited a slower rate of increase, climbing 0.8 percent in October after advancing 1.4 percent a month earlier. Alternatively, crude petroleum prices turned up 6.8 percent, following an 8.4-percent drop in September. -6- Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and services industries Mining. The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining Industries fell 2.4 percent in October, after rising 0.8 percent in September. (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.) Leading this reversal, prices received by the natural gas liquids and natural gas residue industry turned down 6.5 percent, following a 3.3- percent increase in the preceding month. The index for the crude petroleum and natural gas industry declined more rapidly in October than it did in September. Prices received by the gold ores industry moved down, after advancing a month earlier. The index for the crushed and broken limestone industry rose at a slower rate in October than it did in the prior month. Alternatively, prices for the oil and gas well drilling industry turned up 0.8 percent, after declining 1.2 percent in September. The industry index for bituminous coal underground mining increased more quickly in October than it did in September. In October, the Producer Price Index for Total Mining Industries was 123.2 (December 1984=100), 17.9 percent above its year-ago level. Manufacturing. The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Manufacturing Industries climbed 0.9 percent in October, after increasing 0.1 percent in September. The industry group index for transportation equipment advanced 3.6 percent, following a 0.4-percent drop in the previous month. Prices received by the food and kindred products industry group rose more in October than they did a month earlier. The index for the petroleum refining and related products industry group fell at a slower pace in October than it did in September. Prices for the chemicals and allied products industry group edged up, after showing no change in the preceding month. On the other hand, the industry group index for lumber and wood products (except furniture) increased 0.4 percent in October, following a 3.7-percent gain in September. Prices received by the industry group for fabricated metal products (except machinery and transportation equipment) rose slightly less than they did in the prior month. The index for the stone, clay, glass, and concrete products industry group inched down in October, after increasing in September. In October, the Producer Price Index for Total Manufacturing Industries was 138.3 (December 1984=100), 2.0 percent above its year-ago level. Services. Among service industries, prices received by the industries for general medical and surgical hospitals, hotels and motels, television broadcasting, investment advice, scheduled air transportation, property and casualty insurance, and for skilled and intermediate care facilities increased in October. By contrast, the industry indexes for security brokers, dealers, and investment banking companies; prepackaged software; telephone communications (except radiotelephone); life insurance carriers; legal services; and wireless communications declined during the same period. ***** Producer Price Index data for November 2003 will be released on Friday, December 12, 2003, at 8:30 a.m. (EST). NAICS Conversion The net output price indexes will be converted from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis with the February 2004 release of January 2004 indexes. The NAICS conversion involves major definitional changes to many of the currently published SIC-based indexes. After the conversion to NAICS, SIC-based indexes will no longer be produced or published. Historical index data based on the NAICS publication structure will be available depending on the scope of the definitional changes between SIC and NAICS. A concordance between the two structures is available at http://www.bls.gov/ppi/ppinaicstosic.htm through a World Wide Web site. For more information contact the Division of Industrial Prices and Price Indexes, Section of Index Analysis and Public Information at ppi- info@bls.gov or (202) 691-7705. 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| |Oct. 2003 from:| | |_______________________|_______________|__________________________ | Dec. | | | | | | | | | |June |Sept. |Oct. | Oct. | Sept. |July to|Aug. to |Sept. to | 2002 1/|2003 2/|2003 2/|2003 2/| 2002 | 2003 | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. _________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________ | Finished goods...................................| 100.000 143.0 143.9 145.5 3.4 1.1 0.4 0.3 0.8 Finished consumer goods........................| 73.339 145.0 146.3 147.7 4.3 1.0 .6 .3 1.0 Finished consumer foods......................| 20.672 145.2 147.9 151.0 8.5 2.1 .7 1.2 2.2 Crude......................................| 1.333 121.5 136.8 135.0 9.0 -1.3 5.6 5.5 -2.2 Processed..................................| 19.339 147.2 148.8 152.3 8.5 2.4 .3 .8 2.6 Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....| 52.667 144.6 145.3 146.1 2.7 .6 .5 .1 .3 Nondurable goods less foods................| 36.364 148.9 150.2 149.2 3.8 -.7 .5 .1 .1 Durable goods..............................| 16.303 131.8 131.1 135.5 .5 3.4 .2 -.1 1.1 Capital equipment..............................| 26.661 138.9 139.1 141.1 .9 1.4 .1 -.1 .6 Manufacturing industries.....................| 7.839 139.7 140.4 140.9 .6 .4 .1 0 .1 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 18.822 138.5 138.5 141.1 1.0 1.9 .1 -.1 .7 | Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.| 100.000 133.5 134.1 134.1 3.4 0 .5 -.1 .4 Materials and components for manufacturing.....| 46.896 129.6 129.8 130.5 2.4 .5 .5 -.2 .5 Materials for food manufacturing.............| 2.918 134.2 137.1 142.0 14.2 3.6 1.3 1.2 3.8 Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......| 14.707 137.4 136.3 137.1 3.2 .6 1.1 -1.2 .7 Materials for durable manufacturing..........| 9.136 126.8 128.9 129.6 2.9 .5 .6 .9 .6 Components for manufacturing.................| 20.136 126.0 125.9 125.8 0 -.1 -.1 0 -.1 Materials and components for construction......| 12.772 153.0 155.1 155.2 2.3 .1 .1 .9 .3 Processed fuels and lubricants.................| 16.110 112.1 113.3 111.9 10.1 -1.2 2.0 -1.6 .5 Manufacturing industries ....................| 6.430 117.0 117.4 115.5 13.2 -1.6 1.8 -1.3 -.8 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 9.680 109.1 110.7 109.7 8.1 -.9 2.0 -1.7 1.5 Containers.....................................| 3.248 154.1 153.6 153.2 -.1 -.3 -.1 0 -.3 Supplies.......................................| 20.974 141.5 141.7 141.8 1.6 .1 -.1 .2 .1 Manufacturing industries.....................| 4.589 146.7 146.7 146.6 1.2 -.1 0 -.2 0 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 16.385 139.0 139.2 139.5 1.8 .2 -.2 .3 .2 Feeds......................................| 1.097 104.5 107.4 108.7 6.8 1.2 -2.8 5.5 1.2 Other supplies.............................| 15.288 143.3 143.3 143.4 1.4 .1 -.1 0 .1 | Crude materials for further processing...........| 100.000 136.5 135.6 138.3 22.8 2.0 -1.4 3.4 2.6 Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................| 38.685 110.4 118.7 127.9 28.0 7.8 3.7 7.0 8.9 Nonfood materials..............................| 61.315 152.8 144.5 141.9 19.2 -1.8 -4.2 1.1 -1.5 Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............| 33.142 113.8 114.6 119.1 10.8 3.9 2.7 -2.1 4.5 Manufacturing 3/...........................| 32.295 104.6 105.3 109.5 11.1 4.0 2.8 -2.1 4.5 Construction...............................| 0.847 179.0 181.3 182.6 -.2 .7 1.0 .9 .8 Crude fuel 4/................................| 28.173 203.0 180.1 165.8 31.6 -7.9 -11.2 4.8 -7.9 Manufacturing industries...................| 2.540 192.4 171.3 158.2 30.4 -7.6 -10.8 4.7 -7.6 Nonmanufacturing industries................| 25.633 207.6 184.1 169.5 31.7 -7.9 -11.2 4.8 -7.9 | Special groupings | | Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 79.328 142.2 142.6 143.8 2.1 .8 .4 0 .4 Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.985 134.0 134.5 134.4 3.1 -.1 .6 -.3 .3 Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/ 4.015 125.1 128.0 131.7 12.2 2.9 .2 2.3 3.1 Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 59.316 155.8 146.4 143.2 19.0 -2.2 -4.6 1.0 -2.0 | Finished energy goods............................|5/ 14.951 103.1 105.0 103.2 9.2 -1.7 1.2 .1 -.1 Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 85.049 148.3 149.0 151.4 2.4 1.6 .3 .3 1.0 Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 58.388 152.4 153.3 155.9 3.0 1.7 .3 .5 1.2 | Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 64.377 149.8 149.7 152.0 .5 1.5 .1 0 .5 Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 37.716 157.1 156.9 159.2 .1 1.5 .1 .1 .6 Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.413 177.7 177.8 178.1 -.2 .2 .1 .1 .2 | Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 16.468 111.3 112.4 111.1 9.4 -1.2 2.4 -2.3 .6 Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 83.532 137.6 138.0 138.5 2.3 .4 .1 .3 .4 Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 79.517 138.4 138.8 139.0 1.8 .1 .1 .1 .3 | Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 41.909 156.2 140.7 135.7 21.9 -3.6 -7.4 .6 -3.6 Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 58.093 119.4 127.9 135.5 23.3 5.9 3.7 5.5 7.0 Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 19.406 146.3 155.5 158.8 14.0 2.1 3.7 2.3 3.1 | _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed 4/ Excludes crude petroleum. after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated 5/ Percent of total finished goods. after final December indexes are available. 6/ Percent of total intermediate materials. 2/ The indexes for June 2003 have been recalculated to incorporate 7/ Formerly titled "Crude materials for late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes further processing, excluding crude are subject to revision 4 months after original publication. foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and 3/ Includes crude petroleum. 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 | | |Oct. 2003 from:| code | Grouping |_______________________|_______________|________________________ | | | | | | | | | | |June |Sept. |Oct. | Oct. | Sept. |July to|Aug. to|Sept.to | |2003 1/|2003 1/|2003 1/| 2002 | 2003 | Aug. | Sept.| Oct. ___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ | | |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 143.0 143.9 145.5 3.4 1.1 0.4 0.3 0.8 | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 145.0 146.3 147.7 4.3 1.0 .6 .3 1.0 | FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 145.2 147.9 151.0 8.5 2.1 .7 1.2 2.2 | | 01-11 | Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................| 79.3 82.7 88.9 -6.1 7.5 7.1 -1.9 7.5 01-13 | Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 125.5 151.6 137.8 14.9 -9.1 4.3 20.7 -9.1 01-71-07 | Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................| 95.6 111.1 119.3 61.0 7.4 3.2 5.2 4.3 02-11 | Bakery products 2/..................................| 195.0 195.4 195.6 2.5 .1 -.1 .2 .1 02-13 | Milled rice 2/......................................| 98.9 111.9 115.3 38.4 3.0 4.7 5.7 3.0 02-14-02 | Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 126.7 127.0 126.8 4.4 -.2 0 .4 -.2 02-21-01 | Beef and veal 2/....................................| 139.1 141.3 167.2 52.6 18.3 3.8 4.2 18.3 02-21-04 | Pork................................................| 124.5 116.8 120.7 13.4 3.3 -3.7 4.6 4.2 02-22-03 | Processed young chickens............................| 118.9 124.9 126.1 19.6 1.0 -.3 -1.6 3.2 02-22-06 | Processed turkeys...................................| 90.2 93.6 94.9 1.2 1.4 -.7 2.0 1.1 02-23 | Finfish and shellfish...............................| 196.0 195.7 190.2 -7.0 -2.8 .8 .5 -2.9 02-3 | Dairy products......................................| 134.3 147.5 147.6 8.8 .1 2.4 2.0 .3 02-4 | Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 133.6 132.8 133.5 .2 .5 -.4 -.2 .5 02-55 | Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 183.4 183.9 184.9 5.8 .5 0 -.1 .5 02-62 | Soft drinks.........................................| 152.9 152.5 152.9 1.3 .3 -.3 .4 .3 02-63-01 | Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 127.7 127.7 127.9 5.4 .2 .1 -.1 .2 02-78 | Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 159.0 156.7 171.3 15.7 9.3 .5 -1.8 9.3 | | | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 144.6 145.3 146.1 2.7 .6 .5 .1 .3 | | 02-61 | Alcoholic beverages.................................| 148.9 148.3 148.6 1.0 .2 -.2 -.1 -.1 03-81-01 | Women's apparel 2/..................................| 124.4 122.3 122.7 -.2 .3 .1 0 .3 03-81-02 | Men's and boys' apparel 2/..........................| 126.6 126.8 127.5 -.7 .6 .4 -.1 .6 03-81-03 | Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 119.5 120.2 120.2 .7 0 .5 -.3 0 03-82 | Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.4 122.2 122.2 0 0 .6 .1 0 04-3 | Footwear 2/.........................................| 148.0 147.5 148.0 1.3 .3 0 -.1 .3 05-41 | Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 122.4 124.1 121.7 5.3 -1.9 .5 .1 .8 05-51 | Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 174.5 170.2 169.0 24.9 -.7 -1.5 1.6 -1.8 05-71 | Gasoline............................................| 99.4 109.9 103.1 3.7 -6.2 6.3 2.2 -3.0 05-73-02-01| Fuel oil No. 2......................................| 84.4 85.1 94.1 3.2 10.6 1.6 -14.3 9.6 06-38 | Pharmaceutical preparations (June 2001=100) 2/......| 107.1 108.2 108.4 4.1 .2 .3 .4 .2 06-71 | Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 129.6 130.9 130.7 .3 -.2 0 .6 -.2 06-75 | Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 140.5 140.5 140.6 .7 .1 0 .1 .1 07-12 | Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................| 97.5 98.3 98.9 3.8 .6 -.1 .3 .6 09-15-01 | Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 150.3 150.3 150.3 1.0 0 .2 .1 0 09-31-01 | Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 229.9 230.3 232.5 2.4 1.0 0 .2 1.0 09-32-01 | Periodical circulation..............................| 220.6 220.1 220.1 4.0 0 -.3 -.1 .5 09-33 | Book publishing.....................................| 242.9 243.5 244.9 3.3 .6 .2 -.7 .4 12-1 | Household furniture.................................| 158.3 158.0 158.4 .4 .3 .1 -.1 .1 12-3 | Floor coverings 2/..................................| 134.6 134.0 135.1 3.1 .8 -.1 -.5 .8 12-4 | Household appliances 2/.............................| 102.3 101.7 102.1 -2.4 .4 -.3 -.1 .4 12-5 | Home electronic equipment 2/........................| 67.6 66.9 67.1 -2.2 .3 0 -.1 .3 12-62 | Household glassware.................................| 169.0 167.8 169.1 -.4 .8 .1 -.7 .5 12-64 | Household flatware 2/...............................| 145.2 145.2 145.2 0 0 0 0 0 12-66 | Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 133.8 131.9 132.3 -1.1 .3 -1.5 -.1 .3 14-11-01 | Passenger cars......................................| 127.4 125.1 133.8 -.4 7.0 .3 -.5 1.6 15-11 | Toys, games, and children's vehicles 2/.............| 125.0 125.1 124.5 -.3 -.5 0 .1 -.5 15-12 | Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 124.9 123.4 123.6 -1.4 .2 -.4 -.6 .2 15-2 | Tobacco products 2/.................................| 429.4 430.3 432.5 -7.4 .5 0 .1 .5 15-5 | Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 169.0 171.4 172.4 3.2 .6 .3 1.0 .6 15-94-02 | Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 131.9 132.2 132.7 2.0 .4 .1 .5 .4 15-94-04 | Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 144.8 144.8 144.8 .3 0 .3 0 0 | | | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.9 139.1 141.1 .9 1.4 .1 -.1 .6 | | 11-1 | Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 160.3 160.2 161.9 1.7 1.1 -.3 .1 1.1 11-2 | Construction machinery and equipment................| 153.5 153.8 153.8 1.5 0 .1 .1 .1 11-37 | Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 150.6 150.5 148.4 -1.9 -1.4 .1 0 -1.4 11-38 | Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 167.3 167.9 167.9 .4 0 0 .1 0 11-39 | Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 139.3 139.6 139.7 -.6 .1 0 .3 .1 11-41 | Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 162.8 163.3 163.7 1.4 .2 .4 -.2 .6 11-44 | Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 138.1 138.2 138.3 .9 .1 -.1 0 .1 11-51 | Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............| 34.5 33.4 32.8 -17.6 -1.8 -1.5 0 -1.8 11-62 | Textile machinery 2/................................| 157.9 158.1 158.0 .6 -.1 0 .1 -.1 11-64 | Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 170.3 170.3 170.3 .4 0 .1 .1 0 11-65 | Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 142.9 142.6 143.3 -.6 .5 -.3 -.4 .5 11-74 | Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 131.4 132.3 132.2 .6 -.1 0 0 -.1 11-76 | Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 105.7 104.9 105.5 -1.1 .6 -.9 -.6 .6 11-79-05 | X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 101.0 100.3 99.7 -1.2 -.6 -.3 -.2 -.6 11-91 | Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 139.9 140.1 140.5 3.3 .3 .2 .1 .1 11-92 | Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 154.7 154.8 155.1 1.5 .2 0 .1 .2 11-93 | Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 111.9 114.1 113.2 .8 -.8 .1 -.1 -.8 12-2 | Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 162.5 162.7 163.1 .8 .2 .1 .1 .2 14-11-05 | Light motor trucks..................................| 145.0 144.0 157.6 1.7 9.4 .8 .1 3.4 14-11-06 | Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 155.1 154.3 155.1 1.4 .5 -.1 0 .5 14-14 | Truck trailers 2/...................................| 139.6 139.5 139.5 .9 0 .1 0 0 14-21-02 | Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 178.9 184.2 184.5 6.5 .2 1.3 .2 .1 14-31 | Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 158.2 159.3 159.0 5.1 -.2 0 .7 -.2 14-4 | Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 136.3 136.9 136.9 1.8 0 -.9 .3 0 | | |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 133.5 134.1 134.1 3.4 0 .5 -.1 .4 | | | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 125.1 128.0 131.7 12.2 2.9 .2 2.3 3.1 | | 02-12-03 | Flour 2/............................................| 124.5 122.9 119.2 -5.4 -3.0 1.1 -1.4 -3.0 02-53 | Refined sugar and byproducts 2/.....................| 122.7 120.6 122.7 3.0 1.7 .2 -2.1 1.7 02-54 | Confectionery materials 2/..........................| 124.4 125.1 121.6 -2.0 -2.8 -.4 .8 -2.8 02-72 | Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 139.5 138.8 122.9 22.4 -11.5 3.6 -2.7 -11.5 02-9 | Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 111.1 113.6 114.8 5.8 1.1 -2.3 4.4 1.1 | | | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 134.0 134.5 134.4 3.1 -.1 .6 -.3 .3 | | 03-1 | Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 106.9 106.4 106.0 -.3 -.4 .2 -.5 -.4 03-2 | Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 103.6 103.5 103.4 .9 -.1 .4 -.2 -.1 03-3 | Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 110.2 110.1 111.6 -.3 1.4 -.5 -.5 1.4 03-4 | Finished fabrics....................................| 120.6 121.1 121.1 -.2 0 .7 -.2 -.2 03-83-03 | Industrial textile products 2/......................| 130.9 130.9 130.4 -.3 -.4 -.3 .2 -.4 04-2 | Leather 2/..........................................| 212.6 213.4 216.1 4.7 1.3 0 .8 1.3 05-32 | Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 145.6 138.1 147.2 13.4 6.6 -.1 -3.3 6.6 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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 | | |Oct. 2003 from:| code | Grouping |_______________________|_______________|________________________ | | | | | | | | | | |June |Sept. |Oct. | Oct. | Sept. |July to|Aug. to|Sept.to | |2003 1/|2003 1/|2003 1/| 2002 | 2003 | Aug. | Sept.| Oct. ___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ | | | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS | | -Continued..........................................| 05-42 | Commercial electric power...........................| 143.2 149.0 145.5 6.5 -2.3 1.0 2.2 2.7 05-43 | Industrial electric power...........................| 148.3 152.2 148.9 6.4 -2.2 .6 .3 1.1 05-52 | Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 177.2 172.7 170.0 24.8 -1.6 0 .3 -3.1 05-53 | Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 185.5 177.6 175.6 27.7 -1.1 2.2 -.8 -3.2 05-54 | Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...| 152.3 140.9 139.8 26.3 -.8 7.8 -.5 -6.2 05-72-03 | Jet fuels...........................................| 80.5 74.6 77.7 -10.8 4.2 .2 -17.4 8.6 05-73-03 | No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................| 89.8 91.1 101.1 2.4 11.0 2.7 -17.0 18.4 05-74 | Residual fuel 2/....................................| 90.9 103.3 96.0 3.8 -7.1 5.3 -15.0 -7.1 06-1 | Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 142.0 139.5 140.8 6.2 .9 1.3 -1.2 .9 06-21 | Prepared paint......................................| 170.7 171.4 171.5 2.6 .1 .1 -.2 .2 06-22 | Paint materials 2/..................................| 174.0 172.9 172.7 .8 -.1 -.2 -.3 -.1 06-31 | Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 135.4 135.1 135.2 1.7 .1 .2 -.1 .1 06-4 | Fats and oils, inedible.............................| 120.9 112.6 127.8 34.0 13.5 -3.6 -4.2 15.9 06-51 | Mixed fertilizers...................................| 119.9 120.1 120.4 5.4 .2 .3 .5 .7 06-52-01 | Nitrogenates........................................| 147.3 147.5 149.7 39.1 1.5 3.8 2.2 1.4 06-52-02 | Phosphates 2/.......................................| 108.8 110.3 110.0 8.7 -.3 2.5 -.3 -.3 06-53 | Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 148.5 148.2 149.3 1.3 .7 0 -.2 .7 06-6 | Plastic resins and materials........................| 149.2 144.8 145.4 5.2 .4 -1.2 .6 .9 07-11-02 | Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 126.2 127.9 128.2 4.9 .2 -.5 .2 .2 07-21 | Plastic construction products ......................| 139.5 137.8 138.6 0 .6 -.2 .7 1.5 07-22 | Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 142.7 143.8 141.4 2.4 -1.7 .4 -1.0 -1.7 07-26 | Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 116.2 116.2 116.2 -.3 0 0 0 0 08-11 | Softwood lumber.....................................| 164.9 184.5 178.1 7.2 -3.5 .4 10.2 -1.9 08-12 | Hardwood lumber ....................................| 190.0 193.1 193.4 7.7 .2 .3 .5 -.2 08-2 | Millwork............................................| 181.3 183.6 183.6 1.9 0 .1 .8 .2 08-3 | Plywood 2/..........................................| 148.9 193.4 203.9 36.6 5.4 1.9 17.1 5.4 09-11 | Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 125.2 121.0 123.3 3.1 1.9 -1.0 -2.0 1.9 09-13 | Paper 2/............................................| 146.6 146.2 145.6 -.3 -.4 -.3 -.1 -.4 09-14 | Paperboard 2/.......................................| 163.4 160.1 160.0 -4.2 -.1 0 -1.4 -.1 09-15-03 | Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 173.3 172.7 171.7 -1.5 -.6 -.1 .1 -.6 09-2 | Building paper and board 2/.........................| 146.3 187.5 195.3 50.5 4.2 3.0 10.8 4.2 09-37 | Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 158.5 158.5 158.5 1.0 0 .4 -.1 0 10-15 | Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 137.4 137.6 137.7 .4 .1 0 0 .1 10-17 | Steel mill products.................................| 108.8 108.9 110.0 -.4 1.0 .6 .1 1.4 10-22 | Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 101.1 105.7 108.8 12.3 2.9 1.9 .6 2.9 10-25-01 | Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 143.6 142.4 142.2 -.6 -.1 -.1 -.8 -.1 10-25-02 | Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 149.2 154.7 156.9 9.1 1.4 .9 .8 1.4 10-26 | Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 135.1 135.4 135.5 2.2 .1 .2 .1 .1 10-3 | Metal containers 2/.................................| 109.0 109.2 109.4 1.1 .2 0 .1 .2 10-4 | Hardware 2/.........................................| 156.4 156.1 156.4 .4 .2 -.1 0 .2 10-5 | Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 183.6 184.0 183.5 .6 -.3 .3 .2 -.3 10-6 | Heating equipment 2/................................| 163.5 163.7 163.8 3.5 .1 .1 .2 .1 10-7 | Fabricated structural metal products 2/.............| 145.5 145.6 145.8 0 .1 .1 .1 .1 10-88 | Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.4 132.5 132.8 2.2 .2 1.2 0 .2 10-89 | Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 127.4 127.6 127.6 .9 0 .2 0 0 11-45 | Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 171.3 170.6 170.8 .6 .1 .1 .2 .2 11-48 | Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment 2/.....| 137.3 136.7 137.3 .1 .4 -.1 -.1 .4 11-49-02 | Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100)........| 169.6 169.7 170.0 1.2 .2 -.1 .1 -.1 11-49-05 | Ball and roller bearings............................| 171.8 171.2 170.9 .4 -.2 -.2 0 -.2 11-71 | Wiring devices 2/...................................| 152.0 152.7 152.9 -.5 .1 .1 -.5 .1 11-73 | Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 147.3 147.5 147.2 .5 -.2 0 .4 -.1 11-75 | Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment 2/.........| 160.3 159.1 159.7 .9 .4 .1 -.1 .4 11-78 | Electronic components and accessories 2/............| 91.1 91.0 90.6 -1.5 -.4 -.7 .2 -.4 11-94 | Internal combustion engines.........................| 144.1 145.8 145.6 .1 -.1 1.2 -.1 -.1 11-95 | Machine shop products 2/............................| 140.6 140.6 141.1 .6 .4 0 0 .4 13-11 | Flat glass 2/.......................................| 111.5 110.6 110.1 -.9 -.5 0 -.5 -.5 13-22 | Cement..............................................| 152.7 151.8 151.9 -1.4 .1 -.3 .1 0 13-3 | Concrete products...................................| 153.2 153.4 153.4 .5 0 .2 -.4 .1 13-6 | Asphalt felts and coatings..........................| 119.4 116.9 116.4 4.4 -.4 -.3 -.7 -.4 13-7 | Gypsum products 2/..................................| 164.2 178.1 172.0 -.8 -3.4 -2.7 4.3 -3.4 13-8 | Glass containers 2/.................................| 140.0 140.8 140.7 3.2 -.1 .6 .1 -.1 14-12 | Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 112.0 111.7 111.5 -.6 -.2 -.1 .1 -.2 14-23 | Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 154.0 153.7 153.8 5.7 .1 .2 -.2 0 14-25 | Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100).....| 150.5 149.5 149.5 -1.0 0 .2 -.2 0 15-42 | Photographic supplies 2/............................| 118.6 118.6 116.4 -1.5 -1.9 0 0 -1.9 15-6 | Medical/surgical/personal aid devices 2/............| 154.4 154.6 155.6 2.6 .6 0 .1 .6 | | | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 136.5 135.6 138.3 22.8 2.0 -1.4 3.4 2.6 | | | CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 110.4 118.7 127.9 28.0 7.8 3.7 7.0 8.9 | | 01-21 | Wheat 2/............................................| 98.2 95.7 92.8 -25.5 -3.0 11.6 -2.6 -3.0 01-22-02-05| Corn................................................| 97.3 96.6 84.9 -14.7 -12.1 -1.7 12.8 -12.2 01-31 | Slaughter cattle 2/.................................| 113.8 130.5 157.1 62.0 20.4 6.1 11.0 20.4 01-32 | Slaughter hogs......................................| 82.2 69.1 65.6 23.8 -5.1 3.8 2.8 -3.8 01-41-02 | Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 146.3 156.1 154.6 33.2 -1.0 2.4 -3.2 5.5 01-42 | Slaughter turkeys...................................| 100.5 103.1 111.1 6.4 7.8 -7.3 9.6 3.7 01-6 | Fluid milk..........................................| 83.0 104.9 110.9 22.5 5.7 6.9 4.9 9.3 01-83-01-31| Soybeans 2/.........................................| 108.0 104.8 125.1 35.1 19.4 -5.3 8.5 19.4 02-52-01-01| Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 115.6 112.4 111.6 -3.6 -.7 -.4 -1.6 -.7 | | | CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 152.8 144.5 141.9 19.2 -1.8 -4.2 1.1 -1.5 | | 01-51-01-01| Raw cotton 2/.......................................| 83.6 89.8 110.9 70.4 23.5 -7.7 5.6 23.5 01-92-01-01| Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| (3) 109.9 111.1 1.9 1.1 (3) 4.5 1.1 04-19 | Hides and skins (June 2001=100) 2/..................| 80.9 86.5 87.8 -.5 1.5 6.0 .7 1.5 05-1 | Coal 2/.............................................| 100.4 100.3 101.1 2.5 .8 1.3 1.4 .8 05-31 | Natural gas 2/......................................| 237.4 206.7 187.3 39.2 -9.4 -13.1 5.4 -9.4 05-61 | Crude petroleum 2/..................................| 82.3 76.5 81.7 6.5 6.8 1.5 -8.4 6.8 08-5 | Logs, timber, etc...................................| 178.6 183.0 185.8 2.6 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.7 09-12 | Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 202.2 198.4 201.7 5.8 1.7 .4 1.0 1.7 10-11 | Iron ore 2/.........................................| 95.9 96.5 96.5 1.6 0 .4 0 0 10-12 | Iron and steel scrap................................| 163.7 193.9 195.6 29.1 .9 8.8 4.8 4.7 10-21 | Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............| 77.0 80.5 81.3 19.2 1.0 3.1 4.3 1.0 10-23-01 | Copper base scrap 2/................................| 123.8 128.5 132.0 20.7 2.7 3.2 1.2 2.7 10-23-02 | Aluminum base scrap.................................| 166.4 167.3 171.3 9.9 2.4 2.0 -.3 4.4 13-21 | Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 177.3 178.0 178.1 2.7 .1 .2 .6 .3 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ The indexes for June 2003 have been recalculated to incorporate 2/ Not seasonally adjusted. late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are subject 3/ Not available. to revision 4 months after original publication. Table 3. Producer price indexes for selected commodity groupings (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | Unadjusted index 1/ | Commodity| |___________________________________| code | Grouping | June 2003 |Sept. 2003 | Oct. 2003 | _________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________| | | | | | | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................| 401.2 | 403.9 | 408.3 | | All commodities................................| 138.0 | 138.5 | 139.4 | | | | | | | | | | | | MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS | | | | | | | | | | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....| 131.2 | 136.1 | 141.1 | 01 | Farm products................................| 107.3 | 116.1 | 124.1 | 02 | Processed foods and feeds....................| 143.2 | 145.0 | 148.5 | | | | | | | Industrial commodities.........................| 139.2 | 139.2 | 139.3 | 03 | Textile products and apparel.................| 119.7 | 119.5 | 119.7 | 04 | Hides, skins, leather, and related products..| 160.8 | 162.8 | 163.8 | 05 | Fuels and related products and power.........| 114.3 | 113.1 | 111.1 | 06 | Chemicals and allied products 2/.............| 162.2 | 161.2 | 161.9 | 07 | Rubber and plastic products..................| 130.5 | 130.5 | 130.4 | 08 | Lumber and wood products.....................| 173.8 | 184.4 | 184.3 | 09 | Pulp, paper, and allied products.............| 190.2 | 190.7 | 190.8 | 10 | Metals and metal products....................| 128.3 | 129.6 | 130.2 | 11 | Machinery and equipment......................| 122.0 | 122.0 | 121.9 | 12 | Furniture and household durables.............| 134.0 | 133.7 | 134.1 | 13 | Nonmetallic mineral products.................| 148.2 | 148.4 | 148.1 | 14 | Transportation equipment.....................| 144.3 | 144.0 | 148.3 | 15 | Miscellaneous products.......................| 179.3 | 179.7 | 180.4 | | | | | | | Industrial commodities less fuels and related | | | | | products and power...........................| 144.8 | 145.1 | 145.9 | | | | | | | | | | | | OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS | | | | | | | | | 01-1 | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables, | | | | | and tree nuts................................| 105.8 | 118.7 | 116.3 | 01-2 | Grains.........................................| 97.9 | 97.2 | 87.9 | 01-3 | Slaughter livestock............................| 106.3 | 114.5 | 132.7 | 01-4 | Slaughter poultry..............................| 135.2 | 143.4 | 143.8 | 01-5 | Plant and animal fibers........................| 84.6 | 90.9 | 111.8 | 01-7 | Chicken eggs...................................| 115.7 | 145.4 | 159.4 | 01-8 | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................| 131.8 | 125.8 | 143.3 | 01-83 | Oilseeds.......................................| 118.5 | 114.6 | 134.4 | 01-9 | Other farm products............................| 'N.A.' | 163.9 | 165.7 | 02-1 | Cereal and bakery products.....................| 170.7 | 171.4 | 171.3 | 02-2 | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................| 132.9 | 133.6 | 143.5 | 02-22 | Processed poultry..............................| 115.6 | 119.9 | 120.5 | 02-5 | Sugar and confectionery........................| 148.7 | 148.5 | 148.6 | 02-6 | Beverages and beverage materials...............| 150.1 | 149.7 | 150.0 | 02-63 | Packaged beverage materials....................| 129.2 | 129.1 | 129.1 | 02-7 | Fats and oils..................................| 157.2 | 153.1 | 165.2 | 03-81 | Apparel........................................| 125.5 | 124.8 | 125.2 | 04-4 | Other leather and related products.............| 148.1 | 148.7 | 148.1 | 05-3 | Gas fuels......................................| 212.5 | 187.5 | 175.0 | 05-4 | Electric power.................................| 144.2 | 147.9 | 144.7 | 05-7 | Refined petroleum products.....................| 92.3 | 97.8 | 96.6 | 06-3 | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................| 274.3 | 276.4 | 276.6 | 06-5 | Agricultural chemicals and products............| 135.0 | 135.4 | 136.2 | 06-7 | Other chemicals and allied products............| 140.8 | 141.5 | 141.7 | 07-1 | Rubber and rubber products.....................| 119.1 | 119.9 | 120.2 | 07-11 | Rubber, except natural rubber..................| 125.6 | 127.2 | 127.6 | 07-13 | Miscellaneous rubber products..................| 140.8 | 141.3 | 141.3 | 07-2 | Plastic products...............................| 139.0 | 138.8 | 138.5 | 08-1 | Lumber.........................................| 171.0 | 184.5 | 180.5 | 09-1 | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building | | | | | paper and board..............................| 157.9 | 156.8 | 156.7 | 09-15 | Converted paper and paperboard products........| 165.6 | 165.3 | 164.8 | 10-1 | Iron and steel.................................| 119.2 | 122.2 | 123.2 | 10-2 | Nonferrous metals..............................| 122.8 | 124.5 | 125.6 | 10-25 | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................| 137.0 | 137.3 | 137.6 | 11-3 | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........| 150.2 | 150.3 | 150.0 | 11-4 | General purpose machinery and equipment........| 155.6 | 155.6 | 155.8 | 11-6 | Special industry machinery.....................| 166.6 | 169.2 | 169.6 | 11-7 | Electrical machinery and equipment.............| 114.9 | 114.6 | 114.5 | 11-9 | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........| 137.2 | 137.9 | 138.2 | 12-6 | Other household durable goods..................| 158.9 | 158.3 | 158.6 | 13-2 | Concrete ingredients...........................| 165.2 | 165.3 | 165.4 | 14-1 | Motor vehicles and equipment...................| 127.8 | 126.8 | 132.6 | 15-1 | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........| 133.2 | 132.2 | 132.2 | 15-4 | Photographic equipment and supplies............| 104.9 | 104.9 | 103.6 | 15-9 | Other miscellaneous products...................| 141.1 | 141.1 | 141.7 | __________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________| 1/ Data for June 2003 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication. 2/ Prices of some items in this grouping are lagged 1 month. 3/ Not available. Table 4. Producer price indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | Index | Percent change Industry | Industry 1/ |Index|_______________________|to_Oct._2003_from: code | |base | | | | | | | |June |Sep. |Oct. | Oct. | Sep. | | |2003 2/|2003 2/|2003 2/| 2002 | 2003 __________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________ | | | |Total mining industries...................... |12/84| 137.1 126.2 123.2 17.9 -2.4 10 | Metal mining................................ |12/84| 80.1 83.1 84.0 15.4 1.1 12 | Coal mining................................. |12/85| 94.4 94.3 95.0 1.7 .7 13 | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 169.3 152.0 147.0 23.0 -3.3 14 | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic | | | minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 146.6 146.9 147.0 2.3 .1 | | | |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 136.3 137.1 138.3 2.0 .9 20 | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 137.1 138.8 141.6 7.6 2.0 21 | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 376.1 376.8 378.7 -7.3 .5 22 | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 115.4 115.5 116.6 .9 1.0 23 | Apparel and other finished products made | | | from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 124.9 124.9 125.0 -.1 .1 24 | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 157.2 166.8 167.4 8.3 .4 25 | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 147.5 147.6 147.9 .5 .2 26 | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 145.1 144.6 144.3 -.2 -.2 27 | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 197.6 197.9 198.2 2.4 .2 28 | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 165.0 164.5 164.9 3.3 .2 29 | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84| 116.0 122.1 121.1 3.1 -.8 30 | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 128.8 128.6 128.5 1.7 -.1 31 | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 142.7 142.6 143.2 1.0 .4 32 | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 137.7 138.1 137.9 .4 -.1 33 | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 117.8 118.3 119.0 .8 .6 34 | Fabricated metal products, except machinery | | | and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 132.7 133.1 133.2 .9 .1 35 | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 116.0 115.9 116.0 -.7 .1 36 | Electrical and electronic machinery, | | | equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 103.6 102.3 102.2 -2.8 -.1 37 | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 136.8 136.5 141.4 1.4 3.6 38 | Measuring and controlling instruments; | | | photographic, medical, optical goods; | | | watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 129.9 129.9 130.2 1.1 .2 39 | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 133.9 134.2 134.0 .3 -.1 | | | |Services industries | | 40 | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 109.2 108.8 109.4 2.4 0.6 42 | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 127.4 128.7 128.6 2.5 -.1 43 | United States Postal Service................ |06/89| 155.0 155.0 155.0 0 0 44 | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 147.6 151.7 151.7 7.6 0 45 | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 162.3 162.9 164.1 2.5 .7 46 | Pipelines, except natural gas............... |12/86| 111.9 112.2 112.1 -.5 -.1 48 | Communications.............................. |06/01| 97.8 97.2 97.3 -.2 .1 54 | Food stores................................. |12/99| 117.9 118.9 120.9 6.7 1.7 55 | Automotive dealers and gasoline service | | | stations................................... |12/01| 92.4 94.8 94.7 12.3 -.1 59 | Miscellaneous retail........................ |06/00| 105.7 104.3 104.0 -.3 -.3 80 | Health services............................. |12/94| 124.0 124.7 125.8 4.3 .9 81 | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 125.3 126.5 126.3 2.8 -.2 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes. Because of differences in coverage and aggregation methodology, they will generally not match movements of similarly titled indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings. 2/ The indexes for June 2003 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are subject to revision 4 months after original publication. 3/ Not available. Note: NAICS 2002 replaces the SIC classification system beginning with the release of PPI data for January 2004. See http://www.bls.gov/ppi/ppinaics.htm for details. Table 5. Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted (1982=100) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | Index 1/ |_____________________________________________________ Grouping | | | | | | | May | June | July | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 _______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________ | Finished goods...................................| 141.8 142.5 142.8 143.4 143.8 144.9 Finished consumer goods........................| 143.4 144.4 144.5 145.3 145.8 147.2 Finished consumer foods......................| 144.5 145.0 144.7 145.7 147.4 150.7 Crude......................................| 133.5 122.5 123.3 130.2 137.3 134.3 Processed..................................| 145.3 146.8 146.5 147.0 148.2 152.0 Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....| 142.7 143.8 144.1 144.8 144.9 145.4 Nondurable goods less foods................| 145.6 147.5 147.9 148.7 148.8 149.0 Durable goods..............................| 132.6 132.2 132.5 132.7 132.6 134.1 Capital equipment..............................| 139.1 139.1 139.7 139.8 139.7 140.5 Manufacturing industries.....................| 139.5 139.8 140.4 140.6 140.6 140.8 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 138.9 138.8 139.3 139.5 139.3 140.3 | Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.| 132.5 133.2 133.3 134.0 133.8 134.3 Materials and components for manufacturing.....| 129.2 129.5 129.3 130.0 129.8 130.5 Materials for food manufacturing.............| 130.6 133.9 133.1 134.8 136.4 141.6 Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......| 136.8 137.2 136.5 138.0 136.4 137.3 Materials for durable manufacturing..........| 126.7 126.6 127.0 127.7 128.8 129.6 Components for manufacturing.................| 126.1 126.0 126.0 125.9 125.9 125.8 Materials and components for construction......| 152.6 152.7 153.3 153.5 154.9 155.3 Processed fuels and lubricants.................| 108.2 111.2 111.6 113.8 112.0 112.6 Manufacturing industries ....................| 113.2 116.6 117.4 119.5 117.9 117.0 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 105.2 107.9 108.0 110.2 108.3 109.9 Containers.....................................| 153.9 154.1 153.7 153.6 153.6 153.2 Supplies.......................................| 141.5 141.5 141.6 141.4 141.7 141.8 Manufacturing industries.....................| 146.9 146.7 146.9 146.9 146.6 146.6 Nonmanufacturing industries..................| 139.0 139.0 139.1 138.8 139.2 139.5 Feeds......................................| 104.6 104.5 104.7 101.8 107.4 108.7 Other supplies.............................| 143.3 143.3 143.4 143.3 143.3 143.4 | Crude materials for further processing...........| 130.1 135.8 132.1 130.3 134.7 138.2 Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................| 109.7 109.3 105.6 109.5 117.2 127.6 Nonfood materials..............................| 142.0 152.5 148.9 142.6 144.2 142.0 Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............| 108.7 113.4 113.5 116.6 114.2 119.3 Manufacturing 2/...........................| 99.8 104.3 104.3 107.2 105.0 109.7 Construction...............................| 179.4 178.2 177.9 179.7 181.4 182.9 Crude fuel 3/................................| 183.7 203.0 193.4 171.8 180.1 165.8 Manufacturing industries...................| 174.7 192.4 183.4 163.6 171.3 158.2 Nonmanufacturing industries................| 187.9 207.6 197.8 175.7 184.1 169.5 | Special groupings | | Finished goods, excluding foods..................| 140.9 141.7 142.1 142.6 142.6 143.2 Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......| 133.0 133.7 133.8 134.6 134.2 134.6 Intermediate foods and feeds.....................| 122.7 124.9 124.4 124.6 127.5 131.5 Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....| 144.6 155.6 151.6 144.7 146.2 143.3 | Finished energy goods............................| 98.0 100.8 101.5 102.7 102.8 102.7 Finished goods less energy.......................| 148.4 148.4 148.6 149.0 149.4 150.9 Finished consumer goods less energy..............| 152.3 152.4 152.4 152.9 153.6 155.4 | Finished goods less foods and energy.............| 150.1 150.0 150.3 150.5 150.5 151.3 Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....| 157.5 157.3 157.4 157.6 157.7 158.6 Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..| 177.6 177.7 177.5 177.7 177.9 178.2 | Intermediate energy goods........................| 107.3 110.4 111.0 113.7 111.1 111.8 Intermediate materials less energy...............| 137.4 137.5 137.4 137.6 138.0 138.5 Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....| 138.4 138.4 138.3 138.5 138.7 139.1 | Crude energy materials 2/........................| 141.4 156.2 151.0 139.9 140.7 135.7 Crude materials less energy......................| 118.7 118.3 115.7 120.0 126.6 135.4 Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........| 145.4 145.3 145.6 151.0 154.5 159.3 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1/ All seasonally adjusted indexes are subject to change up to 5 years after original publication due to the recalculation of seasonal factors each January. The indexes for June 2003 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents. 2/ Includes crude petroleum. 3/ Excludes crude petroleum. Technical Note Brief Explanation of Producer Price Indexes The term Producer Price Index (PPI) refers to a family of indexes that measure the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services. PPIs measure price change from the perspective of the seller. This contrasts with other measures, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI); CPIs measure price change from the purchaser's perspective. Sellers' and purchasers' prices may differ due to government subsidies, sales and excise taxes, and distribution costs. More than 10,000 PPIs for individual products and groups of products are released each month. PPIs are available for the products of virtually every industry in the mining and manufacturing sectors of the U.S. economy. New PPIs are gradually being introduced for the products of industries in the transportation, utilities, trade, finance, and services sectors of the economy. More than 100,000 price quotations per month are organized into three sets of producer price indexes: (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, 2, and 5) organizes products by class of buyer and degree of fabrication. 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). 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. The Bureau publishes price indexes instead of unit dollar prices. 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. The BLS periodically updates the PPI sample of survey respondents to better reflect current conditions when the structure, membership, technology, or product mix of an industry shifts significantly and to spread reporting burden among smaller firms. Results of these resampling efforts are incorporated into the PPI every January and July. As part of an ongoing effort to expand coverage to sectors of the economy other than mining and manufacturing, an increasing number of service sector industries have been introduced into the PPI. The following list of recently introduced service industries includes the month in which an article describing the industry's content appeared in the PPI Detailed Report: PPI Detailed Industry SIC Report Issue Wireless Telecommunications............................. 4812 July 1999 Telephone Communications, Except Radio Telephone........ 4813 July 1995 Television Broadcasting................................. 4833 July 2002 Grocery Stores.......................................... 5411 July 2000 Meat and Fish (Seafood) Markets......................... 5421 July 2000 Fruit and Vegetable Markets............................. 5431 July 2000 Candy, Nut, and Confectionery Stores.................... 5441 July 2000 Retail Bakeries......................................... 5461 July 2000 Miscellaneous Food Stores............................... 5499 July 2000 New Car Dealers......................................... 5511 July 2000 Gasoline Service Stations............................... 5541 January 2002 Boat Dealers............................................ 5551 January 2002 Recreational Vehicle Dealers............................ 5561 January 2002 Miscellaneous Retail.................................... 59 January 2001 Security Brokers, Dealers, and Investment Bankers....... 6211 January 2001 Investment Advice....................................... 6282 January 2003 Life Insurance Carriers................................. 6311 January 1999 Property and Casualty Insurance......................... 6331 July 1998 Insurance Agencies and Brokerages....................... 6412 January 2003 Operators and Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings....... 6512 January 1996 Real Estate Agents and Managers......................... 6531 January 1996 Prepackaged Software.................................... 7372 January 1998 Data Processing Services................................ 7374 January 2002 Home Health Care Services............................... 8082 January 1997 Legal Services.......................................... 8111 January 1997 Engineering Design, Analysis, and Consulting Services... 8711 January 1997 Architectural Design, Analysis, and Consulting Services. 8712 January 1997 Premiums for Property and Casualty Insurance............ 9331 July 1998 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 1992 values of shipments as reported in the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January 1992 through December 1995, PPI weights were derived from 1987 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are also now calculated with 1992 net output weights. This periodic update of the value weights used to calculate the PPI is done to more accurately reflect changes in production and marketing patterns in the economy. 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. 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. 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 14, "Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (April 1997), Bulletin 2490. Reprints are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on request. Calculating Index Changes 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 today." 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. 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 changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to its base period, whereas percent changes are not. The example below shows the computation of index point and percent changes. 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 Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted and 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 that 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 (1) "Appendix A: Seasonal Adjustment Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of Methods (April 1997), Bulletin 2490 and (2) "Summary of Changes to the PPI's Seasonal Adjustment Methodology" in the January 1995 issue of Producer Price Indexes.