May 21, 2008 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Producer prices in April 2008

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.2 percent in April, seasonally adjusted. This rise followed a 1.1-percent advance in March and a 0.3-percent increase in February.

Percent change from 12 months ago, Producer Price Index for Finished Goods, not seasonally adjusted, April 1999-April 2008
[Chart data—TXT]

The index for finished goods less foods and energy moved up 0.4 percent in April following a 0.2-percent increase in the previous month.

The finished energy goods index fell 0.2 percent in April subsequent to a 2.9-percent rise a month earlier. Gasoline prices decreased 4.6 percent following a 1.3-percent gain in March. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 3.2 percent in April).

The index for finished consumer foods was unchanged in April following a 1.2-percent rise in the prior month.

From April 2007 to April 2008, prices for finished goods rose 6.5 percent, as shown in the chart.

These data are from the BLS Producer Price Index program. To learn more, see "Producer Price Indexes — April 2008," (PDF) (HTML) news release USDL 08-0685. 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.