April 2009 Producer Price Index

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

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

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

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

Finished goods

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

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

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

Intermediate goods

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crude goods

The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing advanced 3.0 percent in April following a 0.3-percent decline in March. The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs turned up after falling a month earlier. Price increases for crude energy materials accelerated from the previous month. The index for crude nonfood materials less energy fell less than in March. (See table B.)

Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs increased 4.6 percent subsequent to a 1.9- percent decrease in March. Leading this upturn, the index for slaughter steers and heifers climbed 9.0 percent in April after declining 1.8 percent in the preceding month. Prices for soybeans, slaughter broilers and fryers, slaughter cows and bulls, and unprocessed finfish also turned up in April. The indexes for fluid milk and fresh vegetables, except potatoes, rose more than in the prior month. By contrast, partially offsetting the upturn in the crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs index, prices for slaughter hogs turned down 5.7 percent after rising 10.8 percent in March. Prices for alfalfa hay declined more than in the previous month. (See table 2.)

The index for crude energy materials moved up 2.9 percent in April following a 1.6- percent gain a month earlier. The increase in coal prices accelerated to 3.9 percent from 0.5 percent in March. The index for natural gas declined 3.1 percent after dropping 15.6 percent in the prior month. Conversely, prices for crude petroleum rose 9.2 percent in April subsequent to a 30.0-percent increase in the previous month.

The index for crude nonfood materials less energy moved down 0.6 percent compared with a 1.6-percent decrease in March. In April, falling prices for iron and steel scrap; phosphates; gold ores; hides and skins; and logs, bolts, timber, and pulpwood more than offset rising prices for nonferrous scrap, copper ores, soybeans, high grade wastepaper, and corn.

Net output price indexes

Mining, Utilities, and Manufacturing Industries. The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining, Utilities, and Manufacturing Industries moved up 0.2 percent in April after falling 0.9 percent in March. (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.) Most of this upturn can be attributed to prices received by petroleum refineries, which advanced 11.5 percent after decreasing 6.8 percent in the prior month. The indexes for livestock slaughtering; automobile, light truck, and utility vehicle manufacturing; and fluid milk manufacturing also turned up in April. Prices received by pharmaceutical preparation manufacturers rose more than they had in March. By contrast, partially offsetting the upturn in the index for total mining, utilities, and manufacturing industries, the index for phosphatic fertilizer manufacturing dropped 38.6 percent in April after advancing 2.5 percent in the previous month. Prices received by manufacturers of cigarettes and petrochemicals also turned down after rising in March. The indexes for natural gas distribution and for gasoline engine and engine parts manufacturing fell more than they had in the prior month. In April, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining, Utilities, and Manufacturing Industries was 104.1 (December 2006 = 100), 6.9 percent below its year-ago level.

Trade Industries. The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Trade Industries declined 0.5 percent following a 0.2-percent gain in March. (Trade indexes measure changes in margins received by wholesalers and retailers.) Margins received by supermarkets fell 4.8 percent in April after advancing 5.1 percent in the previous month. The margin indexes for non- store retailers and women's clothing stores also turned down after rising in March. Margins received by non-discount department stores increased less than a month earlier. By contrast, the margin index for gasoline stations fell 5.1 percent after declining 12.1 percent in the prior month. Margins received by wholesalers of durable goods and new car dealers rose more than they had in March. The margin indexes for radio, television, and other electronic stores and for warehouse clubs and supercenters turned up after decreasing in the preceding month. In April, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Trade Industries was 111.4 (December 2006 = 100), 4.5 percent above its year-ago level.

Transportation and Warehousing Industries. The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Transportation and Warehousing Industries rose 0.4 percent in April compared with a 1.3- percent decline in March. Prices received by the scheduled air transportation industry group increased 1.3 percent following a 2.6-percent decrease in the previous month. The industry indexes for both local and long distance trucking of specialized new freight, inland water freight transportation, and line-haul railroads also turned up in April. Prices received by the general freight trucking industry group fell less than in March. By contrast, prices received by couriers decreased 1.1 percent after edging up 0.1 percent in the preceding month. The industry index for nonscheduled air passenger chartering also turned down in April following an increase a month earlier, and prices received by the freight transportation arrangement industry fell more than they had in March. In April, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output for Total Transportation and Warehousing Industries was 107.1 (December 2006 = 100), 3.1 percent below its year-ago level.

Traditional Service Industries. The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Traditional Service Industries increased 0.5 percent in April after falling at the same rate in March. The index for the depository credit intermediation industry group advanced 2.8 percent following a 5.7-percent decrease a month earlier. Prices received by the securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities industry group; direct life insurance carriers; and the temporary help services industry also turned up in April. Conversely, the advance in the index for the direct health and medical insurance carriers industry slowed to 0.4 percent in April from 1.4 percent in the preceding month. Prices received by office of lawyers also rose less than in March. The industry indexes for non-casino hotels and motels and for lessors of nonresidential buildings turned down after rising a month earlier. In April, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Traditional Service Industries was 102.0 (December 2006 = 100), 0.1 percent below its year-ago level.

PPI Introduces Wherever Provided Services Indexes

Effective with the release of July 2009 data on August 18, 2009, the Producer Price Index (PPI) program will begin publishing Wherever Provided (WEP) Services indexes. Similar to current PPI commodity indexes, the new WEP service indexes are constructed with pricing information collected from PPI's industry-based survey, aggregated on a service-specific basis rather than by industry of origin. Therefore, the WEP services indexes measure price changes for specific services, regardless of the type of companies providing the services.

Since the WEP services indexes are conceptually similar to traditional PPI commodity indexes, they will be included in Table 6 of the PPI Detailed Report, with major WEP services grouping codes ranging from 30 through 80.

Since the WEP services indexes do not include data for physical products, they will not contribute to the PPI's current Stage-of-Processing structure.

Further information is available from the PPI Section of Index Analysis and Public Information, at ppi-info@bls.gov or (202) 691-7705.

PPI Expands Commodity Code Detail

Effective with the release of July 2009 data on August 18, 2009, the Producer Price Index (PPI) program will have the capability to publish commodity indexes at a greater level of detail than previously has been available. As such, the July 2009 data release will include some newly introduced commodity indexes associated with 9-digit or 10-digit commodity codes. (The maximum code length permitted for commodity indexes will become 12 digits.) These indexes will be available in both the PPI Detailed Report and on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/ppi, using the current commodity data retrieval tools.

Further information is available from the PPI Section of Index Analysis and Public Information, at ppi-info@bls.gov or (202) 691-7705.