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http://www.bls.gov/ppi              MAY 13, 2004
                                     
                   Producer Price Indexes -- April 2004

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods advanced 0.7 percent in
April, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This increase followed a 0.5-percent
rise in March and a 0.1-percent gain in February.  April prices for
finished goods other than foods and energy went up 0.2 percent, the same
rate of increase as in the previous month.  At the earlier stages of
processing, the intermediate goods index climbed 1.4 percent, compared with
a 0.7-percent gain in March.  Prices received by manufacturers of crude
goods rose 3.0 percent, after advancing 0.7 percent in the preceding month.
(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  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 2003                                                     
  Apr.       -1.5        0.8       -7.2      -0.5         2.4         -2.3     -15.8
  May         -.4         .1       -3.1        .1         2.5          -.7       1.5
  June         .6         .4        2.9         0         2.9           .6       4.3
  July         .1        -.3         .5        .1         3.0           .2      -2.8
  Aug.         .5         .8        1.4        .1         3.5           .6      -1.0
  Sept.        .2        1.2        -.1         0         3.5          -.1       2.7
  Oct.         .6        2.0        -.4        .5         3.4           .3       2.8
  Nov.        -.1        -.3        -.7         0         3.4            0         0
  Dec.         .2         .2      r 1.4       -.1         4.0           .4     r 3.4
                                                                              
 2004                                                                            
  Jan.         .6       -1.4      r 4.8        .3         3.3           .8     r 1.9
  Feb.         .1         .2         .2        .1         2.1           .9       2.5
  Mar.         .5        1.5         .6        .2         1.4           .7        .7
  Apr.         .7        1.4        1.6        .2         3.7          1.4       3.0
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ 
from those previously reported because data for December 2003 have been revised to 
reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -2-

     The acceleration in finished goods prices can be traced to the index
for finished energy goods, which jumped 1.6 percent in April following a
0.6-percent rise in the preceding month.  By contrast, capital equipment
prices showed no change in April, following a 0.3-percent increase in the
prior month.  The index for finished consumer foods advanced 1.4 percent,
compared with a 1.5-percent gain in March.  Prices for finished consumer
goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.3 percent for the second
consecutive month.

     Before seasonal adjustment, the finished goods index moved up 0.8
percent to 147.3 (1982=100).  From April 2003 to April 2004, prices for
finished goods advanced 3.7 percent.  During the same period, the indexes
for finished energy goods, finished consumer foods, and finished goods
other than foods and energy increased 9.3, 5.9, and 1.5 percent,
respectively.  At the earlier stages of processing, prices for intermediate
goods rose 5.1 percent for the 12 months ended April 2004, while the crude
materials index surged 20.4 percent.

Finished goods

     Finished energy goods prices advanced 1.6 percent in April, after
posting a 0.6-percent gain in the previous month.  Residential natural gas
prices increased 2.5 percent, following a 0.5-percent decline in the prior
month.  The index for residential electric power also turned up in April,
while gasoline prices rose at a quicker pace than they did in March.  On
the other hand, the home heating oil index fell 1.3 percent in April,
compared with an 11.0-percent jump in the preceding month.  The diesel fuel
index increased less than it did in March.

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.) |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 2003                                                            
  Apr.     0.2    -10.9     -0.2       4.6       1.4    -30.7      -1.2      18.2
  May      1.2     -4.2       .1       4.2       1.9      1.9       -.1      19.1
  June     1.8      3.1        0       4.5       -.8     10.5        .2      29.1
  July     -.9      1.5      -.1       4.4      -2.5     -4.8       1.9      24.2
  Aug.      .2      2.4       .1       4.4       3.7     -6.1       2.0      20.8
  Sept.    2.7     -2.0       .2       3.7       7.0     -1.1       2.7      21.5
  Oct.     2.7      -.2       .3       3.4       8.5     -2.8       3.0      22.6
  Nov.     2.6     -1.3       .1       3.4       -.6     -1.3       4.3      18.0
  Dec.   r -.3      1.4       .2       3.9      r .3    r 7.0     r 3.0    r 19.5
                                                                         
 2004                                                                     
  Jan.  r -1.2      2.7       .6       3.8    r -7.0   r 10.5     r 2.7      13.7
  Feb.      .2       .6       .9       2.7       3.6        0       5.5      10.7
  Mar.     2.9       .5       .6       1.2       7.1     -6.1       2.7      -1.6
  Apr.     5.0      1.8      1.1       5.1       3.7      6.3      -3.9      20.4
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may 
differ from those previously reported because data for December 2003 have been 
revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -3-

     Subsequent to a 0.3-percent gain in March, capital equipment prices
showed no change in April.  The index for light motor trucks fell 1.0
percent in April, compared with a 0.8-percent increase in the previous
month.  Likewise, prices for commercial furniture, passenger cars, civilian
aircraft, and heavy motor trucks turned down, after rising in the prior
month.  The index for communication and related equipment decreased,
following no change a month earlier, while prices for agricultural
machinery and equipment rose less than they did in March.  By contrast, the
index for integrating and measuring instruments edged up 0.1 percent in
April, compared with a 1.1-percent decline in the preceding month.  Prices
for x-ray and electromedical equipment; industrial molds and mold boxes;
and plastic working machinery also rebounded, after price decreases in
March.  The index for ships advanced, after showing no change in March,
while construction machinery and equipment prices increased at a faster
rate than they did in the prior month.

     The index for finished consumer foods rose 1.4 percent in April,
following a 1.5-percent gain in the previous month.  Over half of the April
increase for finished consumer foods prices was due to a 10.4-percent jump
in the index for dairy products.  Other commodities with notable price
increases in April included:  beef and veal, soft drinks, pork, processed
young chickens, roasted coffee, and shortening and cooking oils.  These
higher prices were partially offset by declining prices for eggs for fresh
use, finfish and shellfish, fresh and dry vegetables, and fresh fruits and
melons in April.

     The index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy
advanced 0.3 percent in April, the same rate as in the prior month.  In
April, rising prices for alcoholic beverages, pharmaceutical preparations,
cigarettes, soaps and synthetic detergents, pet food, and women's, girls',
and infants' apparel outweighed falling prices for light motor trucks, home
electronic equipment, book publishing, passenger cars, and sporting and
athletic goods.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components advanced 1.4 percent in April, after posting a 0.7-percent gain
in March.  The indexes for intermediate energy goods, materials for
nondurable manufacturing, intermediate foods and feeds, materials and
components for construction, and materials for durable manufacturing went
up at a quicker rate in April than they did in March.  Excluding prices for
foods and energy, the intermediate goods index rose 1.1 percent, following
a 0.6-percent increase in the prior month.  (See table B.)

     Prices for intermediate energy goods jumped 1.8 percent in April,
following a 0.5-percent advance in March.  Commercial natural gas prices
climbed 3.9 percent, compared with a 2.1-percent decline in the preceding
month.  The indexes for industrial natural gas, industrial electric power,
and commercial electric power also turned up in April, after falling a
month earlier.  Prices for gasoline and natural gas to electric utilities
moved up at a faster pace than they did in March.  By contrast, the index
for jet fuels decreased 2.4 percent in April, following a 2.0-percent rise
in the previous month.  Prices for home heating oil and asphalt also turned
down.  The index for residual fuel fell more in April than it did in March.

     The index for materials for nondurable manufacturing increased 1.1
percent in April, compared with a 0.4-percent gain in March.  Prices for
industrial chemicals rose 1.9 percent, following a 0.3-percent decrease in
the preceding month.  Likewise, the indexes for nitrogenates, gray fabrics,
and finished fabrics increased, after falling in March.  Prices for
paperboard and paper rose more in April than they did in the prior month.
Conversely, the index for inedible fats and oils rose 2.5 percent in April,
following a 12.1-percent jump in March.  Price increases also slowed for
plastic resins and materials.  The indexes for phosphates and for medicinal
and botanical chemicals declined, after advancing in the prior month.

                                    -4-

     Prices for intermediate foods and feeds increased 5.0 percent in
April, on the heels of a 2.9-percent advance in March.  The index for dairy
products surged 10.4 percent, following a 3.7-percent rise a month earlier.
Price increases for prepared animal feeds, beef and veal, pork, and
shortening and cooking oils also picked up the pace in April.  The indexes
for confectionery materials and liquid beverage bases used for soft drinks
rose in April, after showing no change in March.  On the other hand, prices
for refined sugar and sugar byproducts edged down 0.1 percent, compared
with a 1.2-percent advance in the preceding month.  Flour prices declined
more in April than they did in the prior month, while the index for
processed young chickens went up less than it did in March.

     Subsequent to a 1.4-percent increase in March, prices for materials
and components for construction climbed 1.7 percent.  In April, the index
for millwork rose 2.2 percent, following a 0.5-percent gain in the previous
month.  Price increases for fabricated structural metal products, wiring
devices, fabricated ferrous wire products, and steel mill products also
gathered speed in April.  The index for plastic construction products rose,
after showing no change in March.  Prices for concrete products turned up
in April.  By contrast, a 1.8-percent increase in prices for plywood in
April followed an 8.6-percent increase a month earlier.  The indexes for
nonferrous wire and cable, softwood lumber, and gypsum products also
advanced less than they did in the preceding month.

       The index for materials for durable manufacturing moved up 2.4
percent in April, following a 2.0-percent increase in March.  Prices for
aluminum mill shapes advanced 1.2 percent, compared with a 0.9-percent
decrease in the prior month.  Prices for adhesives and sealants also turned
up, after falling in March.  The indexes for hot rolled steel bars, plates,
and structural shapes; cold rolled steel sheet and strip; cold finished
steel bars; and primary aluminum (except extrusion billet) rose more in
April than they did a month earlier.  On the other hand, the index for
primary nonferrous metals other than copper, aluminum, and zinc dropped 9.7
percent, following a 0.6-percent decline in the preceding month.  Prices
for building paper and board and plywood rose less in April than they did
in March.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
gained 3.0 percent in April, after increasing 0.7 percent in March.  Prices
for crude energy materials turned up in April, following a decline in the
prior month.  By contrast, the crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs index rose
less than it did in the prior month.  The basic industrial materials index
turned down in April.  (See table B.)
     
     The crude energy goods index increased 6.3 percent in April, following
a decrease of 6.1 percent in March.  Natural gas prices led this upturn by
climbing 7.9 percent, after a 14.1-percent drop in March.  The coal index
rose 1.4 percent, compared with a 0.2-percent decline in the previous
month.  On the other hand, crude petroleum prices rose 5.2 percent in
April, after a March gain of 8.1 percent.
     
     The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs rose 3.7 percent in
April, following an advance of 7.1 percent in the previous month.
Slaughter cattle prices led the deceleration by gaining 0.2 percent, after
increasing 13.0 percent in March.  Prices for soybeans and corn also rose
less quickly, while the indexes for fresh and dry vegetables and
unprocessed finfish turned down.  Alternatively, fluid milk prices soared
23.2 percent in April, after posting an advance of 12.2 percent in the
prior month.  The indexes for slaughter broilers and fryers and wheat
turned up in April, compared with decreases in March.  Prices for slaughter
hogs fell less in April than in March, while prices for slaughter turkeys
and alfalfa hay rose more quickly.
     
                                    -5-
                                     
     Prices for crude nonfood materials less energy fell 3.9 percent,
following a 2.7-percent advance in the previous month.  More than half of
this downturn was due to the index for iron and steel scrap, which fell
10.1 percent in April after climbing 6.7 percent in March.  Leaf tobacco
prices and raw cotton prices fell more quickly in April than they did in
the preceding month, while the indexes for copper base scrap and wastepaper
rose less quickly.  On the other hand, the index for nonferrous metal ores
gained 8.3 percent in April, following a March increase of 7.1 percent.
Prices for aluminum base scrap also rose more quickly in April than in
March.  The index for pulpwood posted no change, after falling in the prior
month.

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and services industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining
Industries increased 3.4 percent in April, following a 4.0-percent decrease
in March.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.)  The
index for the natural gas liquid extraction industry advanced 2.4 percent,
after dropping 13.2 percent a month earlier.  Prices received by the
industries for crude petroleum and natural gas extraction, bituminous coal
underground mining, and gold ore mining also turned up in April, following
decreases in the prior month.  By contrast, the industry index for oil and
gas operations support activities fell 2.4 percent, following no change in
the previous month.  Prices received by the industries for coal mining
support activities and for potash, soda, and borate mineral mining turned
down, after rising in March.  In April, the Producer Price Index for the
Net Output of Total Mining Industries was 138.5 (December 1984=100), 11.2
percent above its year-ago level.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Manufacturing Industries advanced 1.1 percent in April, following a 0.6-
percent gain in March.  Prices received by the food manufacturing industry
group jumped 2.6 percent, after rising 1.6 percent in the prior month.  The
industry group indexes for petroleum and coal products and electric
equipment, appliance, and components also rose more in April than they did
a month earlier.  Prices received by manufacturers of beverage and tobacco
products, plastics and rubber products, and computer and electronic
products turned up, following declines in March.  On the other hand, the
index for furniture and related products manufacturing rose 0.4 percent in
April, after increasing 0.5 percent a month earlier.  Prices received by
the industry groups for leather and allied products and for transportation
equipment turned down, following March increases.  The indexes for
manufacturers of chemicals, machinery, and wood products rose at a slower
pace in April than they did in the prior month.  In April, the Producer
Price Index for the Net Output of Total Manufacturing Industries was 141.8
(December 1984=100), 4.0 percent above its year-ago level.

Services.  Among service industries in April, prices received by the
industries for general medical and surgical hospitals, lessors of
nonresidential buildings (except miniwarehouse), portfolio management,
employee leasing services, direct life insurance carriers, and offices of
physicians (except mental health) increased.  Alternatively, the industry
indexes for hotels and motels (except casino hotels), securities brokerage,
scheduled freight air transportation, couriers, investment banking and
securities dealing, and passenger car rental fell in April.

     
                                   *****
        Producer Price Index data for May 2004 is scheduled to be
          released on Friday, June 11, 2004, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

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|                       |Apr. 2004 from:|                          
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |        
                                                 |          |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   |  Apr. | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb.  to |Mar.  to
                                                 |   2003 1/|2003 2/|2004 2/|2004 2/|  2003 | 2004  |  Feb. |   Mar.  |  Apr.  
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   144.5   146.2   147.3     3.7    0.8      0.1      0.5     0.7   
  Finished consumer goods........................|   74.351   146.7   148.7   150.2     4.5    1.0       .1       .7      .9   
    Finished consumer foods......................|   21.479   150.3   150.3   152.5     5.9    1.5       .2      1.5     1.4   
      Crude......................................|    1.727   151.1   143.9   129.0    -3.5  -10.4     -2.2      9.5    -9.4   
      Processed..................................|   19.752   150.1   150.8   154.5     6.7    2.5       .3       .9     2.3   
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   52.872   145.0   147.7   148.9     3.8     .8       .1       .3      .7   
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   36.806   148.2   152.0   154.0     4.8    1.3       .2       .2     1.1   
      Durable goods..............................|   16.066   134.3   134.8   134.3     1.4    -.4      -.2       .6     -.3   
  Capital equipment..............................|   25.649   140.2   141.1   141.0     1.4    -.1      0         .3     0     
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.020   140.2   141.4   141.8     1.6     .3       .2       .2      .3   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   18.629   140.2   140.9   140.7     1.3    -.1      -.1       .3     -.1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   134.5   137.9   139.8     5.1    1.4       .9       .7     1.4   
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   46.863   130.9   134.1   135.9     5.0    1.3      1.1       .7     1.3   
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    2.953   140.7   141.1   146.1    12.7    3.5       .4      1.6     3.4   
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   14.501   137.9   141.7   143.2     4.1    1.1       .7       .4     1.1   
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|    9.501   131.2   140.0   143.5    13.3    2.5      3.5      2.0     2.4   
    Components for manufacturing.................|   19.908   125.8   126.2   127.0      .8     .6       .2      0        .6   
  Materials and components for construction......|   12.896   155.6   160.7   163.6     7.0    1.8      1.4      1.4     1.7   
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   16.959   111.7   116.3   118.1     6.6    1.5       .7       .6     1.8   
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    6.835   115.7   118.5   119.8     4.2    1.1      1.0      -.1     1.5   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   10.125   109.2   114.9   117.1     8.3    1.9       .4      1.0     2.1   
  Containers.....................................|    3.160   153.5   154.1   154.3      .2     .1      -.1       .2      .1   
  Supplies.......................................|   20.122   142.8   144.8   146.4     3.6    1.1       .3       .7     1.1   
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    4.388   146.8   147.6   147.8      .7     .1       .2       .1      .1   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   15.733   140.6   142.9   144.9     4.5    1.4       .4       .8     1.4   
      Feeds......................................|    1.226   118.9   124.6   134.7    31.8    8.1      -.2      6.0     8.7   
      Other supplies.............................|   14.508   143.6   145.6   146.7     2.4     .8       .4       .4      .8   
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   141.1   149.7   154.1    20.4    2.9      2.5       .7     3.0   
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   40.157   124.7   130.8   135.1    26.3    3.3      3.6      7.1     3.7   
  Nonfood materials..............................|   59.843   149.5   159.8   164.1    16.7    2.7      1.9     -3.2     2.6   
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   33.319   125.0   140.9   140.5    27.1    -.3      2.7      4.6     -.5   
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   32.700   115.1   129.9   129.5    27.6    -.3      2.7      4.7     -.5   
      Construction...............................|    0.619   184.6   189.2   191.2     6.0    1.1       .5      1.0      .6   
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   26.524   175.3   174.8   186.8     5.6    6.9       .8    -12.2     6.9   
      Manufacturing industries...................|    2.383   166.9   166.8   177.9     5.6    6.7      1.1    -11.9     6.7   
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   24.141   179.3   178.7   191.0     5.6    6.9       .8    -12.3     6.9   
                                                 |                                                                             
               Special groupings                 |                                                                             
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 78.521   142.8   144.9   145.7     3.0     .6       .1       .3      .5   
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.822   134.7   138.2   139.8     4.6    1.2       .9       .7     1.2   
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.178   134.1   136.4   143.0    18.0    4.8       .2      2.9     5.0   
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 57.867   151.1   162.2   167.9    17.4    3.5      2.1     -3.1     3.4   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 15.875   101.0   107.0   109.3     9.3    2.1       .2       .6     1.6   
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 84.125   150.9   151.3   152.0     2.6     .5       .1       .6      .5   
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 58.476   155.5   155.7   156.7     3.0     .6       .1       .7      .7   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 62.646   151.4   152.0   152.2     1.5     .1       .1       .2      .2   
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 36.997   159.0   159.3   159.7     1.5     .3      0         .3      .3   
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 20.931   178.9   179.0   180.2     1.5     .7       .2      -.1      .7   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 17.360   110.9   115.3   117.1     6.4    1.6       .6       .5     1.8   
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 82.640   139.0   142.1   144.0     4.9    1.3       .9       .7     1.3   
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 78.462   139.5   142.6   144.2     4.2    1.1       .9       .6     1.1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 39.397   141.8   147.1   156.3    12.6    6.3      0       -6.1     6.3   
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 60.603   136.2   146.6   147.8    26.3     .8      4.3      5.5     1.0   
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 20.446   170.1   192.2   185.3    26.3   -3.6      5.5      2.7    -3.9   
                                                 |                                                                             
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                               
  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 December 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 |                                                       |                       |Apr. 2004 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   | Apr.  | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb. to|Mar. to  
           |                                                       |2003 1/|2004 1/|2004 1/| 2003  | 2004  |  Feb. |  Mar. |  Apr.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 144.5   146.2   147.3     3.7    0.8      0.1     0.5     0.7   
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 146.7   148.7   150.2     4.5    1.0       .1      .7      .9   
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 150.3   150.3   152.5     5.9    1.5       .2     1.5     1.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  99.8    89.2    88.3    16.3   -1.0     -7.0     -.7    -1.0   
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 156.9   129.8   122.1   -18.6   -5.9     -7.8    13.0    -5.9   
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................| 136.4   150.8   110.5    10.9  -26.7     11.5     8.6   -22.9   
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 194.6   195.0   195.2      .1     .1      0       -.2      .1   
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 124.6   131.6   136.7    49.1    3.9      3.5     1.8     3.9   
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 126.7   126.7   126.1     -.3    -.5      -.1      .1     -.5   
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal 2/....................................| 149.6   135.7   144.5    13.5    6.5     -2.3     3.7     6.5   
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 113.4   122.1   125.6    11.9    2.9      3.1      .1     2.5   
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 126.5   144.3   146.2    27.6    1.3      7.3     1.5      .9   
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................| 101.0   103.8   104.7    17.4     .9      3.6      .9      .4   
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 191.7   227.0   199.6    -6.9  -12.1     -1.1     9.6   -12.1   
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 144.3   147.4   162.7    21.8   10.4      1.3     3.7    10.4   
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 134.1   133.5   133.6     -.1     .1       .1     -.1      .1   
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 185.6   186.7   187.0     2.4     .2       .1      .3      .2   
02-62      |   Soft drinks 2/......................................| 153.1   153.3   157.3     2.9    2.6      -.1    -1.3     2.6   
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 127.9   128.0   130.5     2.3    2.0      -.2      .2     2.0   
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 179.5   195.0   201.4    30.2    3.3     -1.3     1.4     3.3   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 145.0   147.7   148.9     3.8     .8       .1      .3      .7   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 151.2   150.2   155.3     4.0    3.4       .8      .4     3.5   
03-81-06   |   Women's, girls', & infants' apparel (12/03=100) 2/..| 100.0    99.9   100.2     (3)     .3      0       -.1      .3   
03-81-07   |   Men's and boys' apparel (Dec. 2003=100) 2/..........| 100.0   100.2   100.1     (3)    -.1      -.2      .4     -.1   
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.4   123.0   123.1      .6     .1      0       -.2      .1   
04-3       |   Footwear 2/.........................................| 146.2   148.5   145.8    -1.0   -1.8      1.2     -.6    -1.8   
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 118.7   119.0   119.5     3.3     .4       .4     -.2      .4   
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 171.4   174.8   175.4     4.7     .3      2.6     -.5     2.5   
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  94.3   117.0   125.4    25.3    7.2      2.0     1.3     3.4   
05-73-02-01|   Home heating oil and distillates....................|  93.7   106.3   109.8    17.1    3.3     -7.7    11.0    -1.3   
06-38      |   Pharmaceutical preparations (June 2001=100) 2/......| 109.1   109.7   111.7     5.1    1.8      -.2      .6     1.8   
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 132.5   131.3   132.7     2.4    1.1      0       -.1     1.1   
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 140.6   140.9   140.8      .1    -.1       .1      .1     -.1   
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  98.7   102.6   102.7     5.3     .1      4.0     0        .1   
09-15-01   |   Sanitary paper products 2/..........................| 150.4   146.5   146.4    -2.7    -.1       .1    -2.6     -.1   
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 232.5   232.7   232.8     1.3    0         .1     0       0     
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 218.7   225.3   223.7     1.6    -.7      0        .4     -.6   
09-33      |   Book publishing.....................................| 247.8   252.1   249.9     3.4    -.9      0        .6     -.9   
12-1       |   Household furniture.................................| 158.2   159.2   159.1      .6    -.1       .5      .1     -.1   
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 134.0   127.9   133.3      .7    4.2       .3    -2.7     4.2   
12-4       |   Household appliances 2/.............................| 101.9   101.3   101.5    -1.1     .2      -.5     -.2      .2   
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  67.2    67.7    65.5    -3.7   -3.2       .1      .7    -3.2   
12-62      |   Household glassware.................................| 168.9   165.1   171.3     1.2    3.8      -.7    -2.4     3.8   
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 145.2   145.6   145.4      .1    -.1      (3)     (3)     -.1   
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 134.0   134.3   134.1      .5    -.1       .1      .3     -.1   
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 131.7   131.8   131.5     1.6    -.2       .2      .3     -.2   
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles 2/.............| 124.6   124.6   124.7     -.2     .1      0        .1      .1   
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 122.0   125.1   123.5    -1.4   -1.3       .5      .1    -1.3   
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 433.8   432.7   434.5     1.4     .4      0       -.5      .4   
15-5       |   Mobile homes .......................................| 172.8     (3)     (3)     (3)    (3)      (3)     (3)     (3)   
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 134.4   134.4   135.5     3.1     .8      -.1     -.1      .8   
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 145.4   145.4   145.4      .4    0        0       0       0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 140.2   141.1   141.0     1.4    -.1      0        .3     0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 162.0   164.7   165.2     3.1     .3       .1     1.2      .3   
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment 2/.............| 153.6   156.0   157.2     2.5     .8       .3      .5      .8   
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 150.8   149.5   150.8     0       .9      -.3      .1      .9   
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 167.8   171.5   170.8     2.1    -.4      1.3      .8     -.4   
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 139.3   139.1   139.2     -.1     .1      -.2     -.9      .1   
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 163.3   165.1   164.9     1.2    -.1       .2     0       -.2   
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 138.2   140.8   141.9     3.1     .8       .9      .7      .8   
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............|  31.8    31.1    30.8   -12.3   -1.0      -.9    -1.0    -1.0   
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 157.7   157.9   158.0      .6     .1      0       0        .1   
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100) 2/.......| 170.3   172.9   173.5     1.9     .3       .2     1.2      .3   
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 143.4   143.0   143.4      .7     .3      -.1     -.1      .3   
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 132.1   133.3   133.8     1.6     .4       .2      .6      .4   
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 105.2   104.8   104.6    -1.5    -.2      -.2     0       -.2   
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............|  99.8    97.5    98.1    -2.0     .6       .3     -.8      .6   
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 140.9   142.2   142.9     2.6     .5       .3      .5      .4   
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 157.0   157.9   161.6     4.5    2.3       .3      .2     2.3   
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 113.3   113.3   112.7      .9    -.5       .1     0       -.5   
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 162.8   164.1   163.7      .9    -.2      0       1.0     -.2   
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 153.9   152.5   150.4     2.0   -1.4     -1.9      .8    -1.0   
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 152.2   158.3   157.9     1.7    -.3       .4      .3     -.3   
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 139.7   144.9   147.2     5.4    1.6       .1     2.3     1.6   
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 184.7   185.5   185.5     5.2    0         .1      .2     -.1   
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 162.9   164.9   171.2     8.2    3.8      3.3     0       3.8   
14-4       |   Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 137.3   141.8   142.0     4.4     .1      1.9     1.1      .1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 134.5   137.9   139.8     5.1    1.4       .9      .7     1.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 134.1   136.4   143.0    18.0    4.8       .2     2.9     5.0   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 125.4   129.3   126.3     2.4   -2.3      2.8    -1.4    -2.3   
02-53      |   Refined sugar and byproducts 2/.....................| 121.1   120.2   120.1    -1.9    -.1      -.3     1.2     -.1   
02-54      |   Confectionery materials 2/..........................| 123.6   122.5   124.4    -1.5    1.6     -1.8     0       1.6   
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 144.0     (3)     (3)     (3)    (3)      (3)     (3)     (3)   
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 123.3   128.7   137.4    26.1    6.8      -.5     5.6     6.8   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 134.7   138.2   139.8     4.6    1.2       .9      .7     1.2   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 105.7   105.2   105.7     -.7     .5      -.5      .3      .5   
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 105.1   107.4   107.7     4.0     .3      0        .4      .3   
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 111.9   111.1   111.7      .8     .5       .3     -.2      .5   
03-4       |   Finished fabrics 2/.................................| 120.6   120.2   120.4      .5     .2      -.6     -.1      .2   
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 130.1   130.6   131.5      .6     .7      0        .3      .7   
04-2       |   Leather 2/..........................................| 219.2   221.9   221.4     3.1    -.2       .1      .7     -.2   
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 161.3   161.2   162.0    14.6     .5    -17.2      .4      .5   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
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 |                                                       |                       |Apr. 2004 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   | Apr.  | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb. to|Mar. to  
           |                                                       |2003 1/|2004 1/|2004 1/| 2003  | 2004  |  Feb. |  Mar. |  Apr.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |                                                                 
           |   -Continued..........................................|                                                                 
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 138.3   137.8   138.2     0.9    0.3      0.5    -0.1     0.4   
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 142.9   143.2   143.5     -.6     .2       .1     -.5      .7   
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 181.0   183.2   185.6     7.7    1.3      2.2    -2.1     3.9   
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 185.3   188.9   190.5     5.1     .8      3.5     -.3     2.4   
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...| 155.3   163.9   164.4     6.8     .3      4.4     3.7     6.4   
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  86.6    94.3    93.4    12.3   -1.0      3.7     2.0    -2.4   
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  98.1   109.7   119.9    17.2    9.3     -7.3     8.5     7.6   
05-74      |   Residual fuels 2/...................................| 104.3    98.9    93.1     1.2   -5.9     -1.1    -3.4    -5.9   
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 143.1   150.5   153.3     9.0    1.9       .7     -.3     1.9   
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 172.4   174.1   174.3     2.3     .1      -.3      .4     -.2   
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 171.5   178.8   178.5     2.9    -.2      3.5      .4     -.2   
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 136.4   137.0   136.0      .2    -.7       .2      .1     -.7   
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible.............................| 151.8   170.7   167.8    46.2   -1.7     10.4    12.1     2.5   
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 121.0   127.1   127.7     6.4     .5      2.1     1.3      .5   
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 154.1   166.6   165.7     5.4    -.5      -.9    -1.8     1.3   
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 111.7   124.3   123.6     8.6    -.6      4.3     3.5     -.6   
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 148.4   149.4   149.2      .6    -.1       .8     -.2     -.1   
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 144.0   153.2   154.4      .8     .8      1.7     1.5      .8   
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 125.9   128.2   127.7      .2    -.4       .9      .5     -.4   
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 138.8   139.4   141.9      .9    1.8     -1.4     0       1.3   
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 143.3   145.4   144.2    -1.8    -.8      1.5     0       -.8   
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 116.8   116.5   116.8      .8     .3       .3     -.3      .3   
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 178.4   204.3   214.9    31.3    5.2      5.0     7.2     5.2   
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber 2/..................................| 193.5   200.3   198.7     6.2    -.8       .4      .6     -.8   
08-2       |   Millwork............................................| 184.0   185.5   189.8     5.0    2.3       .2      .5     2.2   
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 192.1   217.7   221.7    52.3    1.8     15.2     8.6     1.8   
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 125.1   126.3   125.6     4.8    -.6       .2      .6     -.6   
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 145.8   145.8   147.0      .3     .8       .6      .1      .8   
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 159.7   157.8   162.3     -.7    2.9      -.3      .2     2.9   
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 171.8   171.4   170.9    -1.3    -.3      -.5      .1     -.3   
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 178.1   213.3   219.3    57.7    2.8     19.7     9.6     2.8   
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 158.5   159.2   159.6      .8     .3       .1      .3      .3   
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 138.4   138.8   142.0     3.7    2.3       .3     -.1     2.4   
10-17      |   Steel mill products.................................| 112.0   126.9   135.4    23.5    6.7      5.9     4.7     6.3   
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 115.4   132.5   134.2    34.5    1.3      6.9     2.6     1.3   
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 143.1   144.7   146.4     1.9    1.2      2.7     -.9     1.2   
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 164.1   200.6   206.7    39.8    3.0      7.2     5.4     3.0   
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 140.0   152.2   154.1    16.5    1.2      2.4     3.9     1.2   
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 110.3   111.4   113.1     3.7    1.5       .4      .4     1.5   
10-4       |   Hardware 2/.........................................| 157.1   159.8   160.1     2.5     .2       .1      .1      .2   
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 184.1   184.2   185.6     1.4     .8      -.1     -.2      .9   
10-6       |   Heating equipment 2/................................| 163.9   166.4   166.4     1.9    0         .9      .3     0     
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products 2/.............| 146.2   154.0   158.7     9.1    3.1      1.7     2.6     3.1   
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 133.4   139.0   144.5    10.0    4.0      3.5      .2     4.0   
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 127.5   128.2   129.6     1.6    1.1       .1      .4     1.1   
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 173.3   174.4   175.7     2.6     .7       .3      .3      .9   
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment 2/.....| 137.4   137.6   137.8      .3     .1       .3      .4      .1   
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100)........| 170.0   172.2   174.6     3.3    1.4       .3      .5     1.5   
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings 2/.........................| 171.0   172.1   176.2     2.8    2.4      -.1      .2     2.4   
11-71      |   Wiring devices 2/...................................| 153.2   159.0   167.9     9.8    5.6      1.1     3.2     5.6   
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 147.4   147.7   148.9     1.0     .8       .3     -.3     1.0   
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 160.0   160.4   162.4     1.6    1.2      -.3      .3     1.1   
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  89.7    89.5    90.3    -1.1     .9       .3     -.6      .9   
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines 2/......................| 145.2   145.8   145.7     1.2    -.1      -.1     0       -.1   
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 141.2   142.1   142.5     1.5     .3       .8     -.1      .3   
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 110.5   109.3   109.3    -1.8    0        -.3     -.5     0     
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 150.8   151.8   154.0     1.2    1.4       .4      .3      .3   
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 154.8   157.0   158.3     3.1     .8      1.5     -.1      .4   
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings..........................| 116.4   114.1   115.7    -2.1    1.4       .3    -1.1     -.3   
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 176.7   183.8   186.0     7.0    1.2      2.1     3.6     1.2   
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 140.9   144.0   143.7     2.9    -.2      -.1      .8     -.2   
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 111.6   111.3   111.1     -.5    -.2      -.2     0       -.2   
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 156.6   158.8   161.5     5.2    1.7      -.8      .1     2.0   
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 150.1   150.0   151.0      .2     .7      -.1     -.2      .7   
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 116.3   117.8   116.9    -1.4    -.8      0        .3     -.8   
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices 2/............| 155.8   157.8   158.0     2.2     .1      1.3     -.3      .1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 141.1   149.7   154.1    20.4    2.9      2.5      .7     3.0   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 124.7   130.8   135.1    26.3    3.3      3.6     7.1     3.7   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................| 110.6   105.1   110.5    18.3    5.1     -2.3    -2.7     5.1   
01-22-02   |   Corn 2/.............................................|  98.0   115.9   121.6    25.2    4.9      3.8     6.4     4.9   
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................| 141.6   130.0   130.2    12.0     .2     -1.6    13.0      .2   
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  60.6    79.9    79.9    36.1    0       20.2    -4.6     -.6   
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 162.1   194.3   196.7    46.9    1.2     19.8    -2.0     5.5   
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 110.8   104.9   110.7     9.0    5.5     -2.0      .1     2.4   
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 103.2   109.3   135.1    63.0   23.6      4.4    12.2    23.2   
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................| 134.2   163.4   166.2    57.5    1.7      1.3    13.6     1.7   
02-52-01-03|   Cane sugar, raw (Dec. 2003=100) 2/..................| 100.0   101.2   100.3     (3)    -.9      -.2     2.0     -.9   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 149.5   159.8   164.1    16.7    2.7      1.9    -3.2     2.6   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-51      |   Raw cotton 2/.......................................| 106.6    97.9    88.4    -1.6   -9.7    -12.0    -2.2    -9.7   
01-92      |   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 116.1    98.2    38.8   -46.1  -60.5     -2.5   -13.0   -60.5   
04-1       |   Hides and skins (June 2001=100) 2/..................| 190.9   186.8   178.2    -5.4   -4.6     -2.5    -2.8    -4.6   
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................| 100.1   107.7   109.2     7.4    1.4      8.7     -.2     1.4   
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................| 200.6   197.2   212.8     5.4    7.9      -.6   -14.1     7.9   
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  83.3    93.8    98.7    29.7    5.2     -1.9     8.1     5.2   
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 188.4   191.2   192.2     6.8     .5       .6      .2      .4   
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 204.2   227.8   230.2    13.4    1.1      4.8     3.6     1.1   
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  96.5    96.9    96.9     1.7    0        0       -.2     0     
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap................................| 235.1   334.3   305.0    74.5   -8.8     21.1     6.7   -10.1   
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  91.1    99.6   107.9    55.7    8.3      3.0     7.1     8.3   
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 152.6   193.4   198.3    63.7    2.5     12.2     8.8     2.5   
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 178.2   198.5   201.7    20.3    1.6      1.6     1.4     2.7   
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 178.1   180.6   181.6     2.8     .6      -.1      .2      .3   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                                                     
1/  The indexes for December 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                    | Dec. 2003 |March 2004 |April 2004 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   405.6   |   410.3   |   413.3   |
         | All commodities................................|   139.5   |   142.7   |   144.5   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   139.9   |   142.1   |   145.3   |
01       |   Farm products................................|   124.3   |   127.8   |   129.2   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   147.5   |   148.9   |   153.1   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   139.5   |   142.9   |   144.4   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   120.1   |   119.7   |   120.2   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   164.2   |   164.9   |   162.9   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power.........|   111.0   |   116.4   |   119.7   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   163.1   |   168.1   |   169.7   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   130.7   |   131.8   |   132.0   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   183.9   |   193.8   |   197.9   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   190.9   |   192.9   |   193.8   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   133.1   |   142.3   |   145.0   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   121.5   |   121.9   |   122.4   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   133.9   |   133.6   |   133.9   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   148.8   |   150.3   |   151.0   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   147.4   |   147.7   |   147.6   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   180.5   |   182.2   |   182.0   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   146.3   |   148.9   |   149.8   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   131.2   |   114.3   |   110.5   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|   101.3   |   112.4   |   117.3   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|   120.2   |   117.4   |   117.4   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   149.7   |   174.0   |   177.0   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|   107.5   |    99.0   |    89.5   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   173.4   |   199.4   |   141.6   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   152.4   |   178.1   |   181.9   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   144.8   |   174.2   |   176.4   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   173.1   |   146.4   |    57.9   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   172.1   |   173.5   |   173.7   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   136.6   |   137.0   |   140.0   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   122.2   |   132.1   |   133.8   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   149.0   |   149.1   |   149.6   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   151.0   |   150.8   |   155.1   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   129.2   |   129.7   |   131.9   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   174.5   |   183.8   |   187.3   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.8   |   124.7   |   124.8   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   148.5   |   148.5   |   148.7   |
05-3     | Gas fuels......................................|   188.2   |   185.9   |   198.5   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   139.4   |   139.5   |   139.9   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    92.8   |   108.1   |   113.8   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   278.1   |   280.0   |   283.5   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   137.2   |   144.5   |   144.1   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   142.1   |   142.5   |   142.4   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   119.7   |   122.0   |   121.9   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   125.3   |   127.5   |   127.0   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   141.2   |   141.5   |   141.3   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   139.1   |   139.7   |   140.1   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   180.8   |   200.3   |   206.9   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   156.9   |   157.1   |   158.0   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   165.0   |   164.0   |   163.9   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   128.4   |   148.0   |   151.9   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   131.1   |   140.8   |   143.1   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   140.2   |   144.7   |   146.3   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   150.5   |   151.2   |   151.5   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   155.9   |   157.4   |   158.3   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   167.7   |   169.4   |   170.1   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   114.0   |   113.9   |   114.5   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   138.4   |   139.1   |   139.5   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   158.8   |   158.5   |   159.2   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   165.0   |   166.9   |   168.3   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   131.0   |   130.9   |   130.3   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   131.2   |   133.5   |   132.4   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   103.4   |   104.4   |   103.8   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   141.7   |   142.6   |   142.7   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
                                                                                               
1/  Data for December 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. 


                                 
                                                                                               
Table 4.  Producer price indexes for the net output of selected industries and industry groups, not seasonally    
adjusted                                                                                                          
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change  
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Apr._2004_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |         
                  |                                              |     |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   |  Apr.  |  Mar.   
                  |                                              |     |2003 2/|2004 2/|2004 2/|  2003  |  2004   
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84| 129.0   133.9   138.5     11.2      3.4  
       211        | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 155.1   161.3   168.6     12.3      4.5  
       212        | Mining (except oil & gas)................... |12/03| 100.0   105.0   107.1     (3)       2.0  
       213        | Mining support activities................... |12/03| 100.0   100.9    99.9     (3)      -1.0  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 137.7   140.2   141.8      4.0      1.1  
       311        | Food mfg.................................... |12/84| 141.1   142.1   145.8      7.9      2.6  
       312        | Beverage & tobacco mfg...................... |12/03| 100.0   100.4   101.7     (3)       1.3  
       313        | Textile mills............................... |12/03| 100.0   100.3   100.5     (3)        .2  
       314        | Textile product mills....................... |12/03| 100.0    98.8   100.3     (3)       1.5  
       315        | Apparel Manufacturing....................... |12/03| 100.0    99.9   100.0     (3)        .1  
       316        | Leather & allied product mfg................ |12/84| 143.4   143.8   143.5       .6      -.2  
       321        | Wood products manufacturing................. |12/03| 100.0   105.7   108.1     (3)       2.3  
       322        | Paper manufacturing......................... |12/03| 100.0    99.4   100.0     (3)        .6  
       323        | Printing and related support activities..... |12/03| 100.0   100.6   101.1     (3)        .5  
       324        | Petroleum and coal products mfg............. |12/84| 117.5   134.3   141.5     19.2      5.4  
       325        | Chemical mfg................................ |12/84| 165.3   168.6   169.2      1.5       .4  
       326        | Plastics and rubber products mfg............ |12/84| 128.8   129.7   130.1       .8       .3  
       327        | Nonmetallic mineral product mfg............. |12/84| 138.6   139.9   140.8      2.0       .6  
       331        | Primary metal mfg........................... |12/84| 121.4   131.7   136.9     16.2      3.9  
       332        | Fabricated metal product mfg................ |12/84| 133.7   136.6   138.6      4.4      1.5  
       333        | Machinery mfg............................... |12/03| 100.0   101.0   101.3     (3)        .3  
       334        | Computer & electronic product mfg........... |12/03| 100.0    99.8   100.1     (3)        .3  
       335        | Electrical equip, appliance & component mfg. |12/03| 100.0   101.6   102.7     (3)       1.1  
       336        | Transportation equipment mfg................ |12/03| 100.0   100.3   100.1     (3)       -.2  
       337        | Furniture & related product mfg............. |12/84| 147.6   148.5   149.1      1.2       .4  
       339        | Miscellaneous mfg........................... |12/03| 100.0   100.8   101.1     (3)        .3  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Retail trade industries                       |     |                                          
       441        | Motor vehicle and parts dealers............. |12/03| 100.0   101.4   101.7     (3)        .3  
       442        | Furniture and home furnishings stores....... |12/03| 100.0   100.2   100.6     (3)        .4  
       443        | Electronics and appliance stores............ |12/03| 100.0   103.4    94.1     (3)      -9.0  
       444        | Bldg material and garden equip and supp      |     |                                          
                  |  dealers.................................... |12/03| 100.0   105.7   109.6     (3)       3.7  
       445        | Food and beverage stores.................... |12/99| 118.9   120.4   119.2       .4     -1.0  
       446        | Health and personal care stores............. |12/03| 100.0    99.1    98.7     (3)       -.4  
       447        | Gasoline stations........................... |06/01|  47.9    55.1    52.6    -18.4     -4.5  
       448        | Clothing and clothing accessories stores.... |12/03| 100.0   103.0   102.2     (3)       -.8  
       451        | Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores |12/03| 100.0    98.7    99.3     (3)        .6  
       452        | General merchandise stores.................. |12/03| 100.0   101.9   104.3     (3)       2.4  
       454        | Nonstore retailers.......................... |12/03| 100.0   119.1   108.6     (3)      -8.8  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Transportation and warehousing                |     |                                          
       481        | Air transportation.......................... |12/92| 162.7   162.8   162.1      -.1      -.4  
       482        | Rail transportation......................... |12/96| 109.6   110.9   111.3      2.0       .4  
       483        | Water transportation........................ |12/03| 100.0    98.9    99.7     (3)        .8  
       484        | Truck transportation........................ |12/03| 100.0   101.3   101.5     (3)        .2  
       486110     | Pipeline transportation of crude oil........ |06/86| 110.9   114.2   113.1      1.5     -1.0  
       486910     | Pipeline transportation of refined petroleum |     |                                          
                  |  products................................... |06/86| 114.4   117.0   114.3      2.1     -2.3  
       488        | Transportation support activities........... |12/03| 100.0    99.7   100.5     (3)        .8  
       491        | Postal service.............................. |06/89| 155.0   155.0   155.0      0.0      0.0  
       492        | Couriers and messengers..................... |12/03| 100.0   106.0   105.2     (3)       -.8  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Utilities                                     |     |                                          
       221        | Utilities................................... |12/03| 100.0   101.1   102.0     (3)        .9  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Health care and social assistance             |     |                                          
       6211       | Offices of physicians....................... |12/96| 112.8   114.0   114.3      2.2       .3  
       6215       | Medical and diagnostic laboratories......... |12/03| 100.0    99.9   100.0     (3)        .1  
       6216       | Home health care services................... |12/96| 119.0   119.6   119.7      2.8       .1  
       622        | Hospitals................................... |12/92| 137.6   139.7   140.3      5.2       .4  
       6231       | Nursing care facilities..................... |12/03| 100.0   101.8   101.6     (3)       -.2  
       62321      | Residential mental retardation facilities... |12/03| 100.0    99.9    99.9     (3)     0      
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
See footnotes at end of table.                                                                                                       


Table 4.  Producer price indexes for the net output of selected industries and industry groups, not seasonally    
adjusted - Continued                                                                                              
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change  
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Apr._2004_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |         
                  |                                              |     |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   |  Apr.  |  Mar.   
                  |                                              |     |2003 2/|2004 2/|2004 2/|  2003  |  2004   
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Other services industries                     |     |                                          
       511        | Publishing industries, except Internet...... |12/03| 100.0   101.2   101.5     (3)        .3  
       515        | Broadcasting, except Internet............... |12/03| 100.0   100.0   100.8     (3)        .8  
       517        | Telecommunications.......................... |12/03| 100.0    99.8   100.2     (3)        .4  
       5182       | Data processing and related services........ |12/03| 100.0   100.1   100.2     (3)        .1  
       523        | Security, commodity contracts and like       |     |                                          
                  |  activity................................... |12/03| 100.0   101.5   101.8     (3)        .3  
       53112      | Lessors of nonres bldg (exc miniwarehouse).. |12/03| 100.0    99.0   101.8     (3)       2.8  
       5312       | Offices of real estate agents and brokers... |12/03| 100.0   100.3   100.9     (3)        .6  
       5313       | Activities related to real estate........... |12/03| 100.0   101.1    (3)      (3)      (3)   
       5321       | Automotive equipment rental and leasing..... |06/01| 109.1   106.7   105.4      -.3     -1.2  
       5411       | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 126.5   131.8   131.9      5.4       .1  
       541211     | Offices of certified public accountants..... |12/03| 100.0   101.1   101.2     (3)        .1  
       5413       | Architectural, engineering and related       |     |                                          
                  |  services................................... |12/96| 124.8   126.7   126.0      1.7      -.6  
       54181      | Advertising agencies........................ |12/03| 100.0    99.8    99.9     (3)        .1  
       5613       | Employment services......................... |12/96| 112.1   112.5   114.0      2.4      1.3  
       56151      | Travel agencies............................. |12/03| 100.0   100.5    98.6     (3)      -1.9  
       56172      | Janitorial services......................... |12/03| 100.0   100.6   100.5     (3)       -.1  
       5621       | Waste collection............................ |12/03| 100.0   100.8   101.9     (3)       1.1  
       721        | Accommodation                                |12/96| 120.5   125.2   124.0      1.5     -1.0  
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 the movements of similarly titled       
   indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings.                                                
2/ The indexes for December 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 replaced the SIC system beginning with the release of PPI data for January 2004. 


                
Table 5.  Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |                                                     
                                                       |                      Index 1/                       
                                                       |_____________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |        |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |  Nov.  |  Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb.  |  Mar.  |  Apr.  
                                                       |  2003  |  2003  |  2004  |  2004  |  2004  |  2004  
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods...................................|  144.5    144.8    145.7    145.8    146.6    147.6 
        Finished consumer goods........................|  146.7    147.2    148.2    148.3    149.3    150.7 
          Finished consumer foods......................|  150.1    150.4    148.3    148.6    150.8    152.9 
            Crude......................................|  134.5    147.5    135.1    132.1    144.7    131.1 
            Processed..................................|  151.4    150.6    149.4    149.9    151.2    154.7 
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  145.0    145.6    147.8    147.9    148.4    149.4 
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  148.5    149.5    152.5    152.8    153.1    154.8 
            Durable goods..............................|  134.0    133.5    134.1    133.8    134.6    134.2 
        Capital equipment..............................|  140.1    139.9    140.5    140.5    140.9    140.9 
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  140.2    140.2    140.7    141.0    141.3    141.7 
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  140.0    139.7    140.4    140.3    140.7    140.6 
                                                       |                                                     
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  134.4    134.9    136.0    137.2    138.2    140.1 
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  130.8    131.0    131.8    133.2    134.1    135.9 
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  141.6    141.1    139.1    139.7    141.9    146.7 
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  137.4    138.1    140.1    141.1    141.6    143.2 
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  130.6    131.4    132.5    137.2    140.0    143.4 
          Components for manufacturing.................|  125.9    125.8    125.9    126.2    126.2    127.0 
        Materials and components for construction......|  155.9    156.0    156.3    158.5    160.7    163.5 
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|  111.3    112.8    115.8    116.6    117.3    119.4 
          Manufacturing industries ....................|  115.9    115.8    117.7    118.9    118.8    120.6 
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  108.4    110.9    114.7    115.2    116.3    118.7 
        Containers.....................................|  153.4    153.5    153.9    153.8    154.1    154.3 
        Supplies.......................................|  142.7    142.8    143.3    143.8    144.8    146.4 
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  146.8    146.9    147.2    147.5    147.6    147.7 
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  140.4    140.6    141.2    141.7    142.9    144.9 
            Feeds......................................|  118.6    118.4    117.7    117.5    124.5    135.3 
            Other supplies.............................|  143.5    143.6    144.4    145.0    145.6    146.7 
                                                       |                                                     
      Crude materials for further processing...........|  137.9    142.6    145.3    148.9    149.9    154.4 
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|  126.9    127.3    118.4    122.7    131.4    136.2 
        Nonfood materials..............................|  142.1    150.1    161.8    164.8    159.6    163.7 
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|  122.1    125.9    130.9    134.4    140.6    139.9 
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|  112.3    116.0    120.6    123.8    129.6    129.0 
            Construction...............................|  182.7    184.9    186.3    187.3    189.2    190.4 
          Crude fuel 3/................................|  161.2    175.3    197.6    199.2    174.8    186.8 
            Manufacturing industries...................|  153.9    166.9    187.3    189.3    166.8    177.9 
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|  164.8    179.3    202.1    203.7    178.7    191.0 
                                                       |                                                     
                     Special groupings                 |                                                     
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  142.8    143.1    144.8    144.9    145.3    146.0 
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  134.5    135.0    136.3    137.5    138.4    140.1 
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  134.7    134.3    132.7    133.0    136.8    143.7 
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|  143.1    151.7    163.8    167.2    162.0    167.5 
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished energy goods............................|  101.7    103.1    108.0    108.2    108.8    110.5 
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  150.6    150.6    150.3    150.4    151.3    152.0 
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  155.2    155.3    154.6    154.7    155.8    156.9 
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  151.2    151.0    151.4    151.5    151.8    152.1 
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  158.7    158.6    158.8    158.8    159.2    159.6 
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  178.6    178.9    178.6    179.0    178.9    180.2 
                                                       |                                                     
      Intermediate energy goods........................|  110.4    111.9    114.9    115.6    116.2    118.3 
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  138.9    139.2    139.8    141.1    142.1    144.0 
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  139.3    139.6    140.4    141.7    142.6    144.2 
                                                       |                                                     
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|  132.5    141.8    156.7    156.7    147.1    156.3 
      Crude materials less energy......................|  137.0    138.7    133.5    139.2    146.8    148.3 
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  167.2    172.2    176.8    186.6    191.6    184.1 
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                             
  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 December 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 Prices Indexes

     The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) term Producer Price Index (PPI)
refers to a family of indexes that measure the average change over time in
the 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 can differ due to government subsidies, sales and excise taxes, and
distribution costs.

     More than 8,000 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 trade, finance, and services sectors of the economy.

     More than 100,000 price quotations per month are organized into three
sets of PPIs:  (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 organizes products by class of buyer and degree of
fabrication.  The commodity structure 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.
                                     
                        Stage-of-Processing Indexes
     
     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, as well as 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.
                                     
                             Commodity Indexes

     The commodity classification structure of the PPI organizes products
by similarity of end use or material composition, disregarding industry of
origin.  Fifteen major commodity groupings (2-digit commodity codes) make
up the All Commodities Index. Each major commodity grouping includes (in
descending order of aggregation) subgroups (3-digit), product classes (4-
digit), subproduct classes (6-digit), and individual items (8 digit).
Nearly all 8-digit commodities under the traditional commodity coding
system are now derived from corresponding industry-classified product
indexes.  In such instances, movements in the traditional commodity price
indexes and corresponding percent changes will be virtually identical to
their industry-based counterparts, even if their index levels differ.
                                     
                     Industry Net-Output Price Indexes
                                     
     PPIs for the net output of industries and their products are grouped
according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Prior to the release of January 2004, industry-based PPIs were published
according to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.  Industry
price indexes are compatible with other economic time series organized by
industry, such as data on employment, wages, and productivity.  Table 5 of
the PPI Detailed Report includes data for NAICS industries and industry
groups (3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-digit codes); indexes for Census product classes
(7- and 8-digits), products (9-digits), and more detailed subproducts (11-
digits); and, for some industries, indexes for other sources of revenue.

     Indexes may represent one of three kinds of product indexes.  Every
industry has primary product indexes to show changes in prices received by
establishments classified in the industry for products made primarily, but
not necessarily exclusively, by that industry.  The industry classification
of an establishment is determined by which products comprise a plurality of
its total shipment value.  In addition, most industries have secondary
product indexes that show changes in prices received by establishments
classified in the industry for products chiefly made in some other
industry.  Finally, some industries have miscellaneous receipts indexes to
show price changes in other sources of revenue received by establishments
within the industry that are not derived from sales of their products, for
example, resales of purchased materials, or revenues from parking lots
owned by a manufacturing plant.
                                     
                              Data Collection

     PPIs 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.  The BLS
strongly encourages cooperating companies to supply actual transaction
prices at the time of shipment to minimize the use of list prices.  Prices
submitted by survey respondents are effective on the Tuesday of the week
containing the 13th day of the month.  This survey is conducted primarily
through the mail.

     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential basis; only
sworn BLS employees are allowed access to individual company price reports.
BLS publishes price indexes instead of unit dollar prices.  All PPIs are
subject to revision 4 months after original publication to reflect the
availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

     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 with the release of data for 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 industries includes the month and year in which
an article describing the industry's content appeared in the PPI Detailed
Report.

                                                                   PPI
                                                                   Detailed
                      Title                              Code      Report
                                                                   Issue
                                                         SIC             
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
                                                         
                                                        NAICS            
Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores....................442      January 2004
Electronics and Appliance Stores.........................443      January 2004
Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies 
Dealers..................................................444      January 2004
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores.................448      January 2004
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores............451      January 2004
General Merchandise Stores...............................452      January 2004
Miscellaneous Store Retailers............................453      January 2004


                                  Weights

     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the PPI, as well
as weights for commodity-based aggregate indexes calculated using
traditional commodity groupings, such as stage-of-processing indexes,
currently reflect 1997 values of shipments as reported in the Census of
Manufactures and other sources.  From January 1996 through December 2001,
PPI weights were derived from 1992 shipment values.  Industry indexes also
are now calculated with 1997 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 within
the industry to buyers outside the 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 PPI for All
Commodities, 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.
                                     
                        Price Index Reference Base
                                     
     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 previously published percent changes for affected
PPI series.  (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.)  The 1982 reference
base is not used for commodity indexes with a base later than December 1981
or for industry net output indexes 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.  This document can be downloaded 
from the BLS website at (http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch14_itc.htm), 
and reprints are available on request.
                                     
                         Calculating Index Changes
                                     
     Each PPI measures price changes from a reference period which equals
100.0.  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 sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to
$105.50.  Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would indicate that prices
received by producers of finished goods 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.
Index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to
its base period, whereas percent changes are not.  The following example
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, BLS publishes seasonally adjusted and unadjusted changes each
month.  Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing general price
trends in the economy, because these data 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 the BLS.)

     In 1998, the PPI implemented the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment
Method; prior to that year the PPI employed the X-11 method.  Each year,
the seasonal status of most commodity indexes is re-evaluated to reflect
more recent price behavior.  Industry net output indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.  For time series that exhibit seasonal pricing patterns, new
seasonal factors are estimated and applied to the unadjusted data for the
previous 5 years.  These updated seasonally adjusted indexes replace the
most recent 5 years of seasonal data.

     Seasonal factors may be applied to series using either a direct or
aggregative method.  Generally, commodity indexes are seasonally adjusted
using direct seasonal adjustment, which produces a more complete
elimination of seasonal movements than the aggregative method.  However,
the direct seasonal adjustment process may not yield figures that possess
additive consistency.  Thus, a seasonally adjusted index for a broad
category that is directly adjusted may not be logically consistent with all
seasonally adjusted indexes for its components.  Seasonal movements for
stage-of-processing indexes are derived indirectly through an aggregative
method that combines movements of a wide variety of subproduct class (6-
digit) series.

     Seasonally adjusted indexes can become problematic when previously
stable and predictable price patterns abruptly change.  If the new pattern
persists, the seasonal adjustment method will eventually reflect it
adequately; if these patterns keep shifting, however, seasonally adjusted
data will become chronically troublesome.  This problem occurs relatively
infrequently for farm and food-related products but has more often affected
manufactured products such as automobiles and steel.

     Since January 1988, the PPI has used Intervention Analysis Seasonal
Adjustment methods to enhance the calculation of seasonal factors.  With
this technique, outlier values that may distort the seasonal pattern are
removed from the data prior to applying the standard seasonal factor
estimation procedure.  For example, a possible economic cause for large
price movements for petroleum-based products might have been the Persian
Gulf War.  In this case, intervention techniques allowed for better
estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  On the whole, very few series have
required intervention.  Out of nearly 900 seasonally adjusted series, only
16 interventions were performed in 1997.

     For more information relating to seasonal adjustment methods, 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.

                Producer Price Index Data Via the Internet

     In 1995, the BLS began posting PPI series, news releases, and
technical information to both a World Wide Web (WWW) site and a file
transfer protocol (FTP) site.  During the years following the introduction
of PPI Internet services, usage of these sites eclipsed more traditional
methods of data dissemination, such as subscriptions to the PPI Detailed
Report.  There were more than 1.6 million accesses of PPI series over the
Internet during the 12 months ended December 31, 2003.

                 Retrieving PPI data from the PPI Website

     PPI data can be obtained from the WWW address (http://www.bls.gov/ppi).
Scrolling down the page to the "Get Detailed Statistics" header reveals 
the following 5 methods of data retrieval:

     Most Requested Series is a form-based application that allows the
user to quickly obtain PPI time series data by selecting from two separate
lists (commodity and industry) of the most commonly requested time series,
including the All Commodities Index and the stage-of-processing indexes
(for example, Finished Goods).  Within each list, any one-or all-of the
time series shown can be selected.  A user can modify the date range and
output options after executing the query, using the reformat button above
the data output table.

     Create Customized Tables is a form-based query application designed for
users unfamiliar with the PPI coding structure.  It guides a user through
the PPI classification system by listing index titles and does not require
knowledge of commodity or industry codes.  Data retrieved are based on a
query formulated by selecting data characteristics from lists provided.
Two options are available to create customized tables, depending on a
user's browser capability.  The one-screen option is a JavaScript
application that uses a single screen to guide a user through the available
time series data.  The second option is a multiple screen, nonJava-based
application.  Both methods allow a user to browse the PPI coding structure
and select multiple series codes.  Using the one-screen option, users can
modify the date range and output options after executing the query using
the reformat button above the data output table.

     Series Report is a form-based application that uses formatted PPI time
series identifiers (commodity or industry codes) as input in extracting
data according to a specified set of date ranges and output options.  This
application provides the most efficient path for those users who are
familiar with the format of PPI time series identifiers.  Up to 300 indexes
can be extracted at one time.

     There are three basic formats for creating a unique PPI time series
identifier.  For commodity and stage-of-processing indexes, enter a "wpu"
prefix (not seasonally adjusted) or a "wps" prefix (seasonally adjusted) in
combination with a commodity-based code to create a series identifier.
  
  Commodity code      Will provide data for:
  wps063              Drugs and pharmaceuticals, seasonally adjusted
  wpu063803           Pharmaceutical preparations, cardiovascular system
  wpusop3000          Finished goods, not seasonally adjusted
  
     For a current industry-based price index organized according to the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS), enter the prefix "pcu"
followed by the industry-product code.  The series identifier for products
primary to an industry include 12 numeric digits, the six-digit industry
code is repeated, and up to seven additional digits of product detail.
Dashes are used as place holders for higher-level industry group codes.

  Industry-product code,   Will provide data for:
  Current NAICS series
  pcu325---325---          Chemical manufacturing, not seasonally adjusted
  pcu336110336110          Automobile and light duty motor vehicle manufacturing
  pcu621111621111411       Offices of physicians, one and two physician practices 
                           and single specialty group practices, general/family 
                           practices
                    
     To identify a discontinued industry-product code based on the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC), enter a "pdu" prefix and "#" between the
fourth and fifth characters of the product code.  A series identifier for
the discontinued dataset uses underscores as placeholders to complete a
reference to an SIC industry group code of less than four digits.  (All PPI
industry-based indexes organized by SIC were discontinued with the
introduction of the NAICS.)  In all cases, no spaces are permitted.
  
  Industry-product code,   Will provide data for:
  Discontinued SIC series
  pdu28__#                 Chemicals and allied products, not seasonally adjusted
  pdu331_#                 Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling and
                           finishing mills, not seasonally adjusted
  pdu3711#111              Passenger cars
  
     Flat Files and the FTP server are best suited for those users requiring
access to either a large volume of time series data or other PPI-related
documentation (such as, seasonal factor and relative importance tables).
The FTP site can be accessed at (ftp://ftp.bls.gov) or directly from the
links on the "Get Detailed Statistics" page or the PPI homepage.  Data and
documentation available for download include:

 Data/Documentation          Directory:
 NAICS Current Series        /pub/time.series/pc
 SIC Discontinued Series     /pub/time.series/pd
 Commodity Series            /pub/time.series/wp
 Special Requests            /pub/special.requests/ppi
 Latest News Release         /pub/news.release/ppi.txt

     The FTP site maintains files to help with searches and downloads.  
These files are centrally located in the /pub/doc directory.  Within this
directory, go to the overview.txt file for an overview relating to all BLS
data available through the FTP site.  For commodity-based PPI data (which
appear in tables 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 of the PPI monthly detailed report
and tables 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the monthly news release), the program help
file is wp.txt.  For current industry-based PPI data based on the NAICS
(which appear in tables 4, 5, and 9 of the monthly PPI report and table 4
of the monthly news release), the file is pc.txt.  For industry-based SIC
time series that have been discontinued, go to pd.txt.  (These and other
help files are also maintained within each of the five directories listed
above.)

                         Other Sources of PPI Data

     PPI data can also be accessed via the BLS homepage
(http://www.bls.gov).  After clicking the "Get Detailed Statistics" link at
the top of the homepage a chart appears listing all of the available BLS
programs.  The following four methods are available for PPI data:  Most
requested statistics, create customized tables (one screen or multiple
screens), and flat files.  Additional sources of BLS data are also
accessible from this page including:  Economic news releases, series
report, and economy at a glance.

                          Additional information

     The PPI homepage (http://www.bls.gov/ppi) contains additional
information regarding PPI data and methodology.  The top section of the
homepage provides PPI news releases, both current and archived, as well as
general PPI information.  The "Tables Created by BLS" section found beneath
the statistics section provides relative importance and seasonal factor
tables.  The remaining sections offer special notices and publications
pertaining to PPI methodology and applications.

     For questions or comments regarding PPI data classification,
methodology, or data availability on the Internet, call or e-mail the
Section of Index Analysis and Public Information directly at (202) 691-7705
or ppi-info@bls.gov.  Data also can be obtained by calling the national fax-
on-demand service at (202) 691-6325; this service enables customers to
request faxes of BLS data 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.