April 2010 Producer Price Index

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The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.1 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This decrease followed a 0.7-percent advance in March and a 0.6-percent decrease in February. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods moved up 0.8 percent and the crude goods index fell 1.2 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 5.5 percent for the 12 months ended April 2010, their sixth consecutive 12-month increase. (See table A.)

Stage-of-Processing Analysis

Finished goods

In April, the decline in the index for finished goods can be attributed to lower prices for energy goods, which fell 0.8 percent. Also contributing to lower finished goods prices, the index for finished consumer foods moved down 0.2 percent. By contrast, prices for finished goods less foods and energy rose 0.2 percent.

Finished energy: Prices for finished energy goods decreased 0.8 percent after rising 0.7 percent in the previous month. Leading this decline, the gasoline index fell 2.7 percent. Lower prices for liquefied petroleum gas and residential natural gas also were factors in the finished energy goods decrease. (See table 2.)

Finished foods: Prices for finished consumer foods fell 0.2 percent in April, their first decline since July 2009. Leading the April decrease, the index for fresh and dry vegetables dropped 10.2 percent. Lower prices for eggs for fresh use also contributed to the finished consumer foods decline.

Finished core: The index for finished goods less foods and energy advanced 0.2 percent in April, its sixth consecutive monthly increase. Accounting for about one-fifth of the April advance, passenger car prices rose 0.6 percent.

Intermediate goods

The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and Components moved up 0.8 percent in April, its seventh straight monthly advance. Accounting for most of the broad-based April increase, prices for intermediate materials less foods and energy climbed 1.1 percent. The indexes for both intermediate foods and feeds and for intermediate energy goods also contributed to this advance, rising 0.5 and 0.1 percent, respectively. On a 12-month basis, prices for intermediate goods moved up 8.6 percent, their largest increase since a 9.8-percent rise in October 2008. (See table B.)

Intermediate core: The index for intermediate materials less foods and energy climbed 1.1 percent, its largest increase since a 2.0-percent rise in July 2008. Thirty percent of the April advance can be attributed to higher prices for plastic resins and materials, which surged 11.4 percent. The indexes for steel mill products and primary basic organic chemicals also contributed significantly to higher intermediate core prices. (See table 2.)

Intermediate foods: Prices for intermediate foods and feeds advanced 0.5 percent in April, after falling in each of the previous three months. A major factor in this increase was a 5.1- percent rise in the index for meats. Higher prices for natural cheese, except cottage cheese also played a significant role in the intermediate foods advance.

Intermediate energy: The index for intermediate energy goods inched up 0.1 percent in April, its second straight monthly rise. The index for electric power led the April increase, climbing 1.1 percent.

Crude goods

The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing decreased 1.2 percent in April. For the 3-month period ending in April, crude materials prices fell 1.6 percent compared with a 15.1-percent jump from October to January. The monthly decline in April can be attributed to a 5.9-percent decrease in the index for crude energy materials. By contrast, prices for crude nonfood materials less energy moved up 4.0 percent and the index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs increased 0.9 percent. (See table B.)

Crude energy: The index for crude energy materials declined 5.9 percent in April. From January to April, prices for crude energy materials dropped 10.8 percent subsequent to a 24.5-percent surge for the 3 months ended January 2010. April's monthly decrease was entirely the result of natural gas prices, which fell 19.2 percent. (See table 2.)

Crude core: The index for crude nonfood materials less energy rose 4.0 percent in April. For the 3-month period ending in April, crude core prices moved up 9.6 percent after increasing 11.0 percent from October to January. About two-thirds of April's monthly advance can be attributed to a 4.9-percent rise in prices for nonferrous metals. An increase in the index for iron and steel scrap also contributed to higher crude core prices.

Crude foods: The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs increased 0.9 percent in April. From January to April, crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs prices climbed 2.9 percent following a 7.5-percent rise in the previous 3-month period. Leading the April advance, prices for slaughter cattle moved up 7.6 percent. An increase in the index for slaughter poultry also contributed to higher prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs.

Services Analysis

Trade industries: The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Trade Industries moved down 0.6 percent in April following advances in each of the previous two months. (Trade industries measure changes in margins received by wholesalers and retailers.) Most of the April decline can be attributed to a 3.6-percent decrease in margins received by wholesale trade industries. Lower margins received by non-discount department stores and supermarkets also contributed to the decline in the total trade industries index.

Transportation and warehousing industries: The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Transportation and Warehousing Industries rose 0.8 percent in April, its second consecutive monthly increase. Over forty percent of the April advance can be attributed to prices received by the scheduled air transportation industry group, which moved up 1.9 percent. Higher prices received by the general freight trucking industry group and the deep sea freight transportation industry also were factors in the advance in the transportation and warehousing industries index.

Traditional service industries: The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Traditional Service Industries moved up 0.9 percent in April after decreasing 0.5 percent in the previous month. Three quarters of the April rise can be attributed to an 8.4-percent climb in prices received by the commercial banking industry. Higher prices received by portfolio managers and non-casino hotels and motels also contributed to the advance in the total traditional service industries index.