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Producer Price Index up 0.4% in February, ex Fd & Engy up 0.2%
The Producer Price Index for finished goods advanced 0.4 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Finished goods prices rose 0.1 percent in January and decreased 0.1 percent in December. At the earlier stages of processing, the index for intermediate goods moved up 0.7 percent and crude goods prices increased 0.4 percent. On an unadjusted basis, the finished goods index rose 3.3 percent for the 12 months ended February 2012, the smallest year-over-year rise since a similar 3.3-percent advance in August 2010.
In February, the increase in finished goods prices was led by the index for finished energy goods, which moved up 1.3 percent. Prices for finished goods less foods and energy rose 0.2 percent. By contrast, the finished consumer foods index edged down 0.1 percent.
Posted: March 15, 2012 Thursday 08:30 AM