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http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   APRIL 13, 2000
                                     
                                     
                   Producer Price Indexes -- March 2000
                                     
     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 1.0 percent in
March, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This rise followed a 1.0-percent rise
in February and no change in January.  Prices received by producers of
intermediate goods rose 0.9 percent, following a 0.8-percent gain in the
prior month.  The crude goods index increased 1.8 percent, after a 4.2-
percent advance in February.  (See table A.)

Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-
processing price indexes, seasonally adjusted

                     Finish                                  
                         ed
                      goods
                                                             
                                     Change in            
                            Except   finished   Inter-    
                                       goods
                             foods    from 12   mediate  Crude
                              and     months 
Month  Total  Foods  Energy energy      ago      goods   goods
                                     (unadj.)
  1999                                                       
Mar.      0.4    0.4    1.9    -0.1         0.8    0.2    0.8
Apr.       .5    -.8    5.1      .1         1.2     .7    2.1
May        .1     .1     .3      .1         1.4     .3    5.7
June       .1     .6    -.1       0         1.5     .3     .2
July       .2    -.4    2.7     -.1         1.5     .7     .2
Aug.       .6     .5    3.3      .1         2.3     .5    5.1
Sept.      .8     .7    2.1      .6         3.1     .5    4.6
Oct.        0    -.3    -.4      .2         2.8     .2   -2.4
Nov.      r.1   r-.2   r1.1     -.1         3.1    r.2   r5.2
Dec.      r.2    r.1   r1.0      .1         3.0    r.5  r-4.6
                                                             
  2000                                                       
Jan.        0     .1     .7     -.2         2.5     .4    2.7
Feb.      1.0     .4    5.2      .3         4.0     .8    4.2
Mar.      1.0     .1    5.8      .1         4.5     .9    1.8
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in 
this release may differ from those previously reported because 
data for November 1999 have been revised to reflect the 
availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.
                                    -2-
                                     
     Most of the March increase for finished goods can be attributed to a
5.8-percent jump in finished energy goods.  The indexes for finished
consumer goods other than foods and energy, capital equipment, and finished
consumer foods inched up slightly in March.  The index for finished goods
other than foods and energy edged up 0.1 percent in March, following a 0.3-
percent gain in the prior month.

     During the first quarter of 2000, the Finished Goods Price Index moved
up at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 8.2 percent, following a 1.2-
percent rate of increase during the fourth quarter of 1999.  The index for
finished energy goods rose at a 57.5-percent annual rate from December to
March, after increasing at a 6.9-percent annual rate over the last three
months of 1999 and accounted for more than three-fourths of the faster rate
of increase in the finished goods index in the first quarter of 2000.
Finished consumer food prices turned up at an annual rate of 3.0 percent
from December 1999 to March 2000, following a 1.8-percent annual rate of
decline during the fourth quarter of 1999.  Prices for finished goods other
than foods and energy increased at a 1.1-percent seasonally adjusted annual
rate, after rising at a 0.8-percent rate during the prior quarter.
     
     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods rose 0.7 percent in March to stand at 137.0 (1982=100).  From March
1999 to March 2000, the Finished Goods Index increased 4.5 percent.  Over
the past 12 months, the index for finished goods other than foods and
energy gained 1.2 percent, prices for finished consumer foods increased 0.9
percent, and the index for finished energy goods advanced 29.2 percent.
Prices received by domestic producers of intermediate goods rose 6.0
percent for the 12 months ended in March, and the index for crude goods
jumped 27.3 percent during the same period.
     
Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for
intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted

              Interm                           Crude           
              ediate                           goods
              goods
                             Change in                             
                            intermediate                          Change in                       
                     Exclud    goods                   Excluding crude goods
                      ing      from                                 from
                     foods   12 months         Energy    foods    12 months
                      and      ago                       and         ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy   (unadj.)   Foods (unadj.)  energy    (unadj.)

  1999                                                                   
Mar.     -1.3    2.4    0.1       -2.1    0.3    2.9      -1.0     -10.5
Apr.     -1.9    5.1     .2       -1.4   -3.7   12.6       -.5      -9.2
May        .2     .4     .2       -1.1    1.8   13.2       1.7      -3.1
June       .5     .4     .3        -.4      0      0        .5       -.2
July     -1.0    2.8     .5         .3   -3.9    4.3       1.4       -.2
Aug.      1.3    2.5     .2        1.1    3.6    8.6       1.9       9.3
Sept.     1.0    1.9     .1        2.0    1.3    9.3       1.8      16.5
Oct.       .8    -.8     .2        2.2     .1   -7.0       2.4      10.6
Nov.     r-.6   r1.8     .1       r2.8    1.0  r11.5      r1.0     r16.7
Dec.    r-1.6   r2.7     .2        3.9   -2.1 r-10.0      r2.2      15.7
                                                                  
  2000                                                            
Jan.        0     .8     .3        4.1     .7    4.4       3.2      18.0
Feb.       .6    4.2     .2        5.3     .7   10.0       -.2      26.1
Mar.       .5    4.2     .4        6.0    3.5    1.2       -.2      27.3
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for November 1999 
have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and 
corrections by respondents.
                                    -3-
                                     
Finished goods

     Prices for finished energy goods advanced 5.8 percent in March,
following a 5.2-percent gain in February.  After registering a 6.2-percent
rise last month, the index for liquefied petroleum gas jumped 28.5 percent,
the largest one-month rate of increase since a 30.8-percent advance in
October 1990.  Gasoline price increases accelerated from 12.9 percent in
February to 14.9 percent in March.  The indexes for residential electric
power and finished lubricants also rose more than in the previous month.
By contrast, home heating oil prices fell 0.4 percent in March, following a
30.6-percent advance in February.  Prices for residential natural gas rose
less than last month.  The index for kerosene turned down, after a large
increase in the prior month.

     The index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy
edged up 0.1 percent in March, after advancing 0.5 percent in February.
Prices for tobacco products fell 0.2 percent, following a 5.6-percent gain
last month.  The indexes for alcoholic beverages, household appliances, and
periodical circulation also turned down from last month.  Prices for
sanitary papers and health products rose less than a month ago.  The home
electronic equipment index fell, after showing no change in the previous
month.  Conversely, passenger car prices rose 0.5 percent in March,
following a 1.2-percent decline in February.  Prices for prescription
drugs, light motor trucks, household furniture, and for tires, tubes, and
tread also rebounded, after falling in February.

     The index for capital equipment rose 0.1 percent in March, after
showing no change in February.  Rising prices for civilian aircraft, light
motor trucks, heavy motor trucks, and commercial furniture slightly
outweighed falling prices for x-ray and electromedical equipment,
communication and related equipment, electronic computers, and truck
trailers.

     Prices for finished consumer foods edged up 0.1 percent in March,
following a 0.4-percent advance in February.  The eggs for fresh use index
dropped 30.6 percent, after advancing 24.6 percent in the prior month.
Prices for finfish and shellfish, fresh fruits and melons, and processed
fruits and vegetables also turned down, following an increase last month.
The indexes for soft drinks and pork rose less than a month ago.  On the
other hand, the index for fresh and dry vegetables posted a 13.8-percent
gain in March, after declining 6.7 percent in February.  Prices for dairy
products, processed young chickens, beef and veal, and roasted coffee also
turned up, following a decline in the previous month.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components rose 0.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, after registering a 0.8-
percent increase in February.  More than half of the increase in this index
can be traced to higher prices for intermediate energy goods.  The indexes
for nondurable manufacturing materials, materials and components for
construction, and intermediate foods and feeds also advanced in March.  The
index for durable manufacturing materials showed no change, after
increasing 0.8 percent in the prior month.  Excluding foods and energy, the
index for intermediate materials rose 0.4 percent, following a 0.2-percent
increase in the prior month.  During the first quarter of 2000, the
Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and Components
advanced at an 8.9-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, following a 3.6-
percent rate of increase during the prior quarter.  (See table B.)
     
     The intermediate energy goods index increased 4.2 percent, after
posting a similar increase in February.  Rising prices for gasoline,
liquified petroleum gas, jet fuels, diesel fuel, residual fuels, and
commercial electric power more than offset falling prices for industrial
electric power and coke oven products.  The intermediate energy goods index
advanced at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 43.4 percent during the
first quarter of 2000, following a 15.7-percent rate of increase for the
previous three months.
                                    -4-
                                     
     Prices for nondurable manufacturing materials registered a 1.2-percent
increase, following a 0.5-percent rise in February.  The plastic resins and
materials index turned up 2.4 percent, after falling 1.8 percent in the
previous month.  Prices for paperboard, basic organic chemicals, and paper
rose more than in the prior month.  The inedible fats and oils index fell
less than a month ago.  By contrast, gray fabric prices turned down 3.0
percent, after a 0.9-percent advance in the previous month.  The indexes
for basic inorganic chemicals and fertilizer materials also turned down,
after rising in February.  Prices for nondurable manufacturing materials
rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 9.3 percent during the first
quarter of 2000, after rising at a 6.1-percent rate for the previous
quarter.
     
     The index for materials and components for construction increased 0.3
percent in March, the same rate of increase as in the prior month.  Price
increases for plastic construction products, millwork, fabricated
structural metal products, nonferrous wire and cable, and plywood
outweighed price declines for gypsum products, softwood lumber, switchgear,
wiring devices, and cement.  From December 1999 to March 2000, construction
material prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.1
percent, after rising at a 1.1-percent rate during the final quarter of
1999.
     
     Intermediate foods and feeds prices gained 0.5 percent, following a
0.6-percent increase February.  Advancing prices for prepared animal feeds,
beef and veal, pork, fluid milk products, and crude vegetable oils
outweighed falling prices for natural, processed, and imitation cheese,
refined sugar, and butter.  During the first quarter of 2000, the
intermediate foods and feeds index rose at a 4.8-percent seasonally
adjusted annual rate, after decreasing at a 5.6-percent rate during the
prior quarter.
     
     The durable manufacturing materials index showed no change in March,
after posting a 0.8-percent rise in February.  Aluminum mill shape prices
showed no change, after rising 2.3 percent in the prior month.  Prices for
primary aluminum, semi-finished steel mill products, prepared paint, copper
and brass mill shapes, gold, and flat glass fell, after rising a month ago.
The copper cathode and refined copper index fell more than in the previous
month.   On the other hand, prices for hot rolled bars, plates, and
structural shapes turned up 1.5 percent, after falling 0.2 percent in the
prior month.  The indexes for plywood, cold rolled sheet and strip,
building paper and board, and hardwood lumber rose more than in the
previous month.  From December 1999 to March 2000, the durable
manufacturing materials index increased at a seasonally adjusted annual
rate of 6.4 percent, following a 3.9-percent rate of increase for the
previous quarter.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
increased 1.8 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, following a 4.2-
percent rise in February.  Price increases for crude energy materials
slowed markedly from the prior month.  By contrast, the crude foodstuffs
and feedstuffs index rose more rapidly in March than in February.  Prices
for basic industrial materials edged down at the same rate as a month ago.
During the first quarter of 2000, the Producer Price Index for Crude
Materials for Further Processing advanced at a seasonally adjusted annual
rate of 40.6 percent, following an 8.0-percent rate of decline in the final
quarter of 1999.  (See table B.)

     Prices for crude energy materials gained 1.2 percent in March, after
posting a 10.0-percent increase in February.  The index for natural gas
turned down 2.7 percent, following a 9.0-percent advance in February.
Crude petroleum price increases slowed from 16.6 percent in February to 5.1
percent in March.  By contrast, the coal index turned up 2.1 percent, after
falling 2.6 percent in the previous month.  Prices for crude energy
materials rose at an 82.2-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate from
December 1999 to March 2000, following a 24.3 percent rate of decline from
September 1999 to December 1999.

                                    -5-
                                     
     Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs rose 3.5 percent in March,
after rising 0.7 percent in February.  The slaughter cattle index rose 6.1
percent, after falling 1.0 percent in the prior month.  Prices for
slaughter broilers and fryers, fresh and dry vegetables, raw cane sugar,
and slaughter turkeys also increased, following a decline a month earlier.
Fluid milk prices rose in March, after showing no change in February.  By
contrast, prices for unprocessed finfish fell 24.9 percent, following a
28.5-percent advance in the prior month.  The indexes for fresh fruits and
melons and for wheat also turned down, after increasing in the prior month.
Price increases slowed from February to March for corn, alfalfa hay,
soybeans, and unprocessed shellfish.  From December 1999 to March 2000, the
index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs increased at a 21.5-percent
seasonally adjusted annual rate, following a 4.0-percent rate of decline in
the final quarter of 1999.

     The index for basic industrial materials fell 0.2 percent in March,
the same as in February.  Prices declined for nonferrous metal ores, iron
and steel scrap, pulpwood logs, leaf tobacco, softwood logs, nonferrous
scrap, phosphates, cattle hides, and hardwood logs.  Price increases were
registered for wastepaper (10.5 percent) and raw cotton (6.1 percent).  The
basic industrial materials index rose at an 11.7-percent seasonally
adjusted annual rate from December 1999 through March 2000, following a
24.5-percent rate of advance in the final quarter of 1999.

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Domestic
Mining Industries advanced 2.9 percent in March, after registering an 8.1-
percent gain in February.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.)  Prices received by the crude petroleum, natural gas, and
natural gas liquids industry gained 4.1 percent, following an 11.5-percent
advance in the previous month.  The indexes for the drilling oil and gas
wells, gold ores, copper ores, and construction sand and gravel industries
turned down, after rising a month ago.  Prices received by the oil and gas
exploration services industry declined more than in the prior month.  By
contrast, the index for the bituminous coal and lignite industry increased
1.5 percent, following a 1.6-percent decrease in February.  Prices received
by the potash, soda, and borate minerals industry and the crushed and
broken limestone industry rose more than a month earlier.  During the first
quarter of 2000, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Mining Industries increased at an annual rate of 71.3 percent, after
decreasing at a 16.4-percent rate during the final quarter of 1999.  In
March, this index stood at 100.1 (December 1984 = 100), 57.9 percent above
its year-ago level.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Domestic Manufacturing Industries advanced 0.8 percent in March, after
registering an 0.9-percent gain in February.  Rising prices were observed
for the petroleum refining and related products industry group; the
chemicals and allied products industry group; the paper and allied products
industry group; the food and kindred products industry group; the printing,
publishing, and allied products industry group; and the transportation
equipment industry group.  These advances more than offset declining prices
received by the electrical and electronic machinery, equipment, and
supplies industry group; the tobacco manufactures industry group; and the
measuring and controlling instruments industry group.  From December 1999
to March 2000, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Manufacturing Industries increased at a 7.6-percent annual rate, following
a 2.8-percent rate of increase during the previous calendar quarter.  In
March, this index stood at 133.0 (December 1984 = 100), 5.3 percent above
its year-ago level.
                                    -6-
                                     
Other.  Among other industries in March, price increases were observed for
the telephone communications (except radiotelephone) industry, real estate
agents and managers, passenger car rental, radio broadcasting, the trucking
(except local) industry, courier services (except by air), air courier
services, and the scheduled air transportation industry.  Price decreases
were observed for operators and lessors of nonresidential buildings,
engineering services, travel agencies, deep sea foreign transportation of
freight, and truck rental and leasing.

                                   *****
             Producer Price Index data for April 2000 will be
           released on Friday, May 12, 2000 at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T)

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|                       |Mar. 2000 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |          |Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   |  Mar. | Feb.  |Dec. to|Jan.  to |Feb.  to
                                                 |   1999 1/|1999 2/|2000 2/|2000 2/|  1999 | 2000  |  Jan. |   Feb.  |  Mar.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   134.9   136.0   137.0     4.5    0.7      0        1.0     1.0
  Finished consumer goods........................|   75.635   134.3   135.6   137.0     5.9    1.0      0        1.3     1.2
    Finished consumer foods......................|   22.883   135.4   135.9   135.9      .9    0         .1       .4      .1
      Crude......................................|    1.610   119.2   123.2   118.2    -9.4   -4.1     -4.3      4.2    -3.2
      Processed..................................|   21.273   136.6   136.9   137.3     1.7     .3       .4       .2      .4
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   52.752   133.6   135.4   137.3     8.1    1.4      -.1      1.7     1.7
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   36.843   131.6   134.3   137.0    11.5    2.0      -.2      2.6     2.3
      Durable goods..............................|   15.909   134.6   134.0   134.0      .7    0        -.1      -.3      .2
  Capital equipment..............................|   24.365   138.3   138.4   138.5      .6     .1       .1      0        .1
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.431   138.7   139.0   139.3      .6     .2       .1      0        .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.934   138.1   138.1   138.2      .6     .1       .1      0        .2
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   125.2   126.8   127.9     6.0     .9       .4       .8      .9
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   46.496   125.9   126.8   127.4     3.2     .5       .3       .3      .5
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.340   120.9   117.8   118.1    -2.7     .3      0        -.2      .3
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   15.684   127.8   129.6   131.3     7.1    1.3       .5       .5     1.2
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.272   126.7   129.4   129.5     5.1     .1       .8       .8     0
    Components for manufacturing.................|   17.200   125.7   125.7   125.7     0      0        -.1      -.1      .1
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.691   149.4   150.8   151.3     2.4     .3       .4       .3      .3
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   13.782    90.2    94.9    98.1    28.7    3.4       .9      4.1     4.2
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    5.027    92.0    94.3    96.6    18.7    2.4      -.4      2.6     2.6
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.755    88.8    94.9    98.6    34.9    3.9      1.5      5.0     5.1
  Containers.....................................|    3.945   146.5   147.3   148.3     7.1     .7       .5       .1      .7
  Supplies.......................................|   22.086   135.0   135.5   136.0     1.7     .4      0         .2      .4
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    5.078   141.5   141.7   142.3     1.4     .4       .1      0        .4
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.008   132.2   132.8   133.2     1.8     .3      0         .2      .4
      Feeds......................................|    1.162    90.7    93.1    94.3     7.6    1.3      -.3      3.0     1.3
      Other supplies.............................|   15.846   137.2   137.6   138.0     1.5     .3      0         .1      .3
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   109.2   111.2   113.3    27.3    1.9      2.7      4.2     1.8
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   38.822    99.5    97.6   101.3     2.5    3.8       .7       .7     3.5
  Nonfood materials..............................|   61.178   111.9   116.5   117.5    48.5     .9      4.0      6.5      .8
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   38.159   104.9   119.5   122.4    57.3    2.4      1.8      6.8     2.3
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   36.767    96.0   109.9   112.6    59.9    2.5      1.8      7.1     2.4
      Construction...............................|    1.392   200.3   204.4   202.5     5.3    -.9      1.0       .4     -.9
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   23.019   112.6   103.0   101.4    35.9   -1.6      7.5      5.9    -1.6
      Manufacturing industries...................|    1.954   112.3   103.1   100.7    39.3   -2.3      6.3      7.2    -2.3
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   21.065   114.6   104.8   103.3    35.6   -1.4      7.6      5.8    -1.4
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 77.117   134.7   135.9   137.2     5.6    1.0      -.1      1.2     1.2
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.498   126.0   127.7   128.8     6.3     .9       .4       .8     1.0
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.502   111.6   110.3   110.8     -.2     .5      0         .6      .5
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 58.979   112.8   117.3   118.1    51.4     .7      4.0      6.6      .7
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.814    83.6    87.4    92.0    29.2    5.3       .7      5.2     5.8
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.186   144.0   144.2   144.3     1.1     .1      -.1       .3      .1
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.821   146.3   146.6   146.7     1.4     .1      -.2       .5      .1
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 63.303   147.4   147.5   147.6     1.2     .1      -.2       .3      .1
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.938   153.4   153.6   153.6     1.6    0        -.4       .5      .1
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 23.030   168.2   169.0   169.0     2.2    0        -.7      1.1     0
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 13.894    89.9    94.5    97.8    28.7    3.5       .8      4.2     4.2
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 86.106   133.0   133.8   134.4     2.9     .4       .2       .2      .4
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.604   134.4   135.4   136.0     3.1     .4       .3       .2      .4
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 39.878    98.9   102.2   103.4    70.9    1.2      4.4     10.0     1.2
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 60.122   110.5   111.4   114.1     7.0    2.4      1.6       .4     2.2
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.300   142.6   151.0   151.1    16.3     .1      3.2      -.2     -.2
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          3/  Includes crude petroleum.
      after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            4/  Excludes crude petroleum.
      after final December indexes are available.  The first-published          5/  Percent of total finished goods.
      and final December relative importances initially appear,                 6/  Percent of total intermediate materials.
      respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data.      7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for
  2/  The indexes for November 1999 have been recalculated to incorporate           further processing, excluding crude
      late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and
      are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.                  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 |                                                       |                       |Mar. 2000 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   | Mar.  | Feb.  |Dec. to|Jan. to|Feb. to
           |                                                       |1999 1/|2000 1/|2000 1/| 1999  | 2000  |  Jan. |  Feb. |  Mar.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 134.9   136.0   137.0     4.5    0.7      0       1.0     1.0
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 134.3   135.6   137.0     5.9    1.0      0       1.3     1.2
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 135.4   135.9   135.9      .9    0         .1      .4      .1
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  94.9    98.1    94.1    -7.9   -4.1     -2.0     7.0    -4.1
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 108.8   107.6   122.4     7.0   13.8    -19.9    -6.7    13.8
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  85.8    95.3    70.0   -21.8  -26.5     19.3    24.6   -30.6
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 179.0   180.2   180.6     1.8     .2       .1      .4      .2
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 106.0   105.0   102.9   -18.9   -2.0      -.6    -1.0    -2.0
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 122.0   122.0   121.7     -.7    -.2      0       0       -.2
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................| 109.0   110.1   111.8     8.8    1.5      2.5    -1.4     1.8
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................|  96.9   110.3   111.1    26.4     .7      6.2     4.5     2.2
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 110.9   104.7   106.4    -6.1    1.6      -.8    -4.3     1.6
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................| 104.5    91.6    91.9     1.8     .3      -.2    -2.1    -1.6
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 198.9   207.3   197.5    -1.7   -4.7      2.2     6.2    -4.7
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 141.3   130.1   130.5    -8.0     .3      1.6    -1.4     1.0
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 128.3   129.5   129.4      .8    -.1      -.5      .4     -.1
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 170.8   170.4   170.4      .5    0        -.3      .1     0
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 139.4   143.0   143.4     4.5     .3      -.6     2.1      .3
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 132.1   139.6   139.7     2.9     .1      5.3     -.1      .1
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 135.2   136.9   132.8    -6.5   -3.0      1.9      .1    -3.0
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 133.6   135.4   137.3     8.1    1.4      -.1     1.7     1.7
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 136.7   140.1   137.9     1.5   -1.6       .3     2.3    -1.4
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 123.8   123.6   123.6      .1    0        -.3      .1     0
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 132.7   133.0   133.3     -.1     .2      -.2      .2      .1
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 117.3   118.0   119.9      .8    1.6      0       0       1.6
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.3   122.2   122.2     -.7    0        -.1      .2     0
04-3       |   Footwear 2/.........................................| 144.6   145.1   144.9      .2    -.1       .1      .1     -.1
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 107.6   107.0   107.3      .1     .3      -.1      .1      .2
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 121.2   119.5   118.9     8.4    -.5      -.2     1.9      .7
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  73.8    84.7    96.6   100.8   14.0      3.0    12.9    14.9
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  71.4    97.3    92.4   115.4   -5.0      6.2    30.6     -.4
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription) 2/.....| 339.4   340.6   342.9     3.4     .7       .4     -.2      .7
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter) 2/..| 186.5   187.1   187.6     1.1     .3       .1      .1      .3
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 127.3   127.0   127.1     1.2     .1       .2     -.4      .1
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 136.6   136.2   136.3     1.2     .1      -.1     -.2      .1
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  93.4    92.2    92.8      .5     .7      0      -1.4      .7
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 145.3   144.9   145.0     -.5     .1       .1     1.0      .1
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 207.1   207.2   207.2     0      0        0       0       0
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 197.3   198.5   197.7      .8    -.4     -1.0      .6     -.2
09-33      |   Book publishing.....................................| 217.6   217.9   217.9     2.1    0         .4      .5     0
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 151.2   151.5   152.1     1.3     .4       .1     -.1      .4
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 127.7   128.3   128.9     1.2     .5      -.5      .3      .5
12-4       |   Household appliances ...............................| 108.2   108.2   107.9     -.5    -.3       .1      .4     -.6
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  72.7    72.6    71.7    -3.4   -1.2      -.8     0      -1.2
12-62      |   Household glassware.................................| 164.2   164.3   165.7     1.7     .9      0       0        .5
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 139.3   140.0   140.0     0      0        0       0       0
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 131.8   132.3   132.2     -.1    -.1       .1      .2     -.1
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 135.7   133.5   133.4     1.6    -.1       .1    -1.2      .5
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 121.4   122.3   121.3    -2.2    -.8      -.4     -.4     -.6
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 126.0   126.5   126.5      .2    0        -.1      .6     0
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 394.7   399.6   399.0     9.8    -.2     -4.2     5.6     -.2
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 160.0   159.8   160.1     2.3     .2       .3     -.1      .2
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 126.9   127.7   127.2     -.5    -.4      0        .5     -.4
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 140.4   140.4   140.7      .4     .2      -.6     -.9      .2
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.3   138.4   138.5      .6     .1       .1     0        .1
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 152.8   151.7   152.0      .5     .2       .1     0        .2
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 147.6   148.4   148.5     1.3     .1      -.3     -.1      .1
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 160.9   161.5   162.3     1.2     .5       .3     0        .5
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 159.9   160.1   160.6      .8     .3       .1     0        .3
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 140.4   140.8   141.4     1.7     .4       .1      .2      .4
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 151.9   153.0   153.4     1.1     .3       .5     -.5      .1
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 133.3   133.6   133.9      .8     .2      -.1      .3      .2
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............|  81.4    76.8    76.5   -18.5    -.4     -1.1    -3.3     -.4
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 154.6   155.6   155.7     1.0     .1      0        .4      .1
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 163.2   163.7   165.0     1.7     .8      -.1      .3      .8
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 141.2   141.7   141.5      .6    -.1       .1      .1     -.1
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 134.5   135.4   136.0     4.0     .4       .2      .4      .4
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100)......| 111.3   111.3   110.9    -2.8    -.4     -1.0     -.3     -.2
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 103.3   103.0   101.6    -4.4   -1.4      -.1      .1    -1.4
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 126.6   127.9   127.8     1.1    -.1      -.3      .9     -.1
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 144.4   145.0   145.6     1.3     .4       .1      .2      .4
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.6   112.5   113.2     1.2     .6      0        .1      .6
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 157.2   157.6   157.9     1.3     .2       .1      .1      .2
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 159.5   157.6   157.8     0       .1      -.8     -.1      .5
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 147.4   147.9   148.4     1.8     .3      0        .1      .3
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 137.5   138.3   138.1     2.1    -.1       .6      .1     -.1
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 153.2   155.0   156.4     3.6     .9      1.0      .6     1.0
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 145.8   145.8   146.4      .4     .4      0       0        .4
14-4       |   Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 135.3   135.3   135.6      .7     .2       .3     -.1      .2
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 125.2   126.8   127.9     6.0     .9       .4      .8      .9
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 111.6   110.3   110.8     -.2     .5      0        .6      .5
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 103.9   102.6   102.6    -4.6    0        2.6      .8     0
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 119.1   115.0   114.7    -6.1    -.3     -1.3    -1.3     -.3
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................|  93.9    93.4    93.9      .4     .5      1.3    -2.2      .5
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................|  78.9    76.0    77.6   -18.2    2.1     -4.0     -.1     2.1
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................|  99.6   101.6   102.6     5.8    1.0      -.3     2.4     1.0
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 126.0   127.7   128.8     6.3     .9       .4      .8     1.0
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 103.4   105.1   105.4      .7     .3      -.6     1.9      .3
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 107.8   107.7   107.0    -1.7    -.6      -.1      .1     -.6
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 112.4   112.7   109.3    -7.1   -3.0       .4      .9    -3.0
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 121.9   121.9   122.0     -.8     .1     -1.0     -.1     0
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 129.7   130.7   130.4     1.2    -.2      -.2      .6     -.2
04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 177.8   178.9   179.8     2.5     .5       .9     -.3      .6
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 103.4   106.5   136.8   174.7   28.5     -1.6     6.2    28.5
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 |                                                       |                       |Mar. 2000 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   | Mar.  | Feb.  |Dec. to|Jan. to|Feb. to
           |                                                       |1999 1/|2000 1/|2000 1/| 1999  | 2000  |  Jan. |  Feb. |  Mar.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 126.3   125.7   125.8     0.9    0.1     -0.6     0.2     0.2
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 127.5   127.0   126.8     1.0    -.2     -1.1      .2     -.3
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 118.9   115.6   115.4     9.8    -.2      2.4     1.5     1.2
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 116.0   113.0   111.9    13.0   -1.0       .9     2.7     1.2
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  96.9   103.4   101.3    34.5   -2.0     10.1     3.5      .6
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  65.6    81.9    83.8   120.5    2.3      7.0     6.4     8.1
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  71.9    85.4    90.2   108.8    5.6      4.4    13.1     7.2
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  67.2    73.8    78.1   130.4    5.8       .3     0       5.8
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 122.8   126.8   128.8    10.7    1.6      1.1     1.0     1.6
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 157.5   160.2   160.2     2.0    0         .4      .9     -.1
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 144.1   145.2   147.6     2.4    1.7      -.7     1.5     1.7
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 144.0   144.0   143.9     3.7    -.1      -.6      .3     -.1
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................|  97.8    75.7    75.1    -3.0    -.8     -5.9   -13.8     -.8
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 111.4   111.6   112.3    -2.1     .6      -.1     -.9      .2
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................|  96.8   105.5   108.1    11.9    2.5      3.1     3.2     1.2
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 105.4   104.7   101.7   -10.9   -2.9      -.2     -.1    -2.9
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 144.2   144.8   145.8      .6     .7     -1.5      .3      .7
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 135.8   134.8   138.0    17.6    2.4      1.0    -1.8     2.4
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 115.0   116.3   114.2      .3   -1.8       .3      .7    -1.8
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 132.0   134.4   136.4     9.6    1.5      2.3      .1     1.6
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 130.3   131.2   130.7     4.0    -.4       .1      .5     -.4
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.1   117.2   117.4      .2     .2       .2     -.1      .2
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 190.5   194.8   192.3     -.6   -1.3      1.0      .4    -1.3
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 181.0   182.7   184.9     5.1    1.2       .2      .4     1.0
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 175.5   175.3   176.5     2.4     .7       .3     -.4      .7
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 159.5   163.0   166.2    -3.9    2.0       .9      .3     2.0
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 128.1   136.8   138.8    22.0    1.5      4.9     -.2     1.5
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 144.7   146.8   148.2     5.9    1.0       .4      .6     1.0
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 162.2   164.5   175.4    19.8    6.6      -.1     1.4     6.6
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 164.3   165.2   167.1    10.4    1.2       .8     -.1     1.2
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 141.2   144.1   147.0     6.7    2.0      1.1      .8     2.0
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 152.7   152.5   153.5      .8     .7      -.1     -.1      .7
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 135.0   135.5   135.5      .2    0        -.1     -.1     -.1
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 105.4   107.2   108.0     2.5     .7       .2      .9      .7
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 109.7   117.4   115.4    24.2   -1.7      3.5     1.3    -1.7
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 142.7   149.0   149.0    10.9    0        1.1     2.3     0
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 158.1   162.7   160.9    12.6   -1.1      1.3      .2    -1.1
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 138.6   141.7   144.2     8.2    1.8      1.3     1.4     1.8
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 106.5   106.7   106.7     -.3    0         .2      .1     0
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 149.8   150.3   150.6     2.2     .2      -.1      .3      .1
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 177.4   179.6   180.1     2.2     .3       .2     -.2      .1
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 154.2   154.4   154.3      .5    -.1      -.1     0        .2
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 144.3   144.9   145.5     1.9     .4       .3      .2      .3
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.4   130.4   130.6     -.2     .2       .5     -.1      .2
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 125.6   125.8   126.0      .5     .2      0       0        .2
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 161.7   162.8   163.2     1.8     .2      -.3      .1      .3
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 134.5   135.2   135.2     -.3    0       -1.2      .6     0
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 160.4   161.0   162.0     1.1     .6      0        .1      .6
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 166.9   167.9   168.0      .9     .1      -.2      .3      .1
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 153.1   152.9   153.1      .9     .1       .1     -.5     -.1
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 145.6   145.9   146.1     -.2     .1      -.3      .2      .1
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 152.0   152.5   152.0     1.3    -.3      -.1      .5     -.3
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  98.2    97.1    96.9    -1.7    -.2      -.8     -.7     -.2
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 143.1   143.1   143.4      .4     .2      -.3     -.1      .4
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 137.0   137.4   137.5      .5     .1       .3     0        .1
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 106.4   108.0   107.7     1.8    -.3      1.0      .6     -.3
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 150.9   150.4   149.7      .2    -.5      -.2     -.1     -.1
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 144.5   145.4   146.1     2.3     .5       .7     -.1      .3
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................| 100.5   100.2   101.0     2.6     .8      -.1      .2      .8
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 223.2   229.9   221.5    11.8   -3.7      0       1.1    -3.7
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 125.7   127.4   127.4     1.2    0         .3     1.0     0
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 113.9   113.5   113.3     -.7    -.2       .1     -.1     -.2
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 138.6   138.5   139.8      .4     .9     -1.0     0        .6
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 143.5   142.5   142.5     -.8    0        0        .1     0
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 128.1   124.4   123.9    -3.4    -.4     -2.9     0       -.4
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 145.0   145.7   145.6      .8    -.1      0        .1     -.1
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 109.2   111.2   113.3    27.3    1.9      2.7     4.2     1.8
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................|  99.5    97.6   101.3     2.5    3.8       .7      .7     3.5
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................|  81.3    80.3    80.2      .8    -.1      4.6     3.7     -.1
01-22-02-05|   Corn 2/.............................................|  74.4    82.8    87.8     3.7    6.0      5.3     7.4     6.0
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................| 101.6   101.2   107.4    10.3    6.1      -.1    -1.0     6.1
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  55.2    65.9    70.7    57.8    7.3      9.7     -.7     9.2
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 139.5   118.5   121.9    -7.7    2.9     -4.9    -4.1     1.9
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 138.7   100.4   108.8     4.7    8.4      4.8    -2.3     2.6
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 104.6    88.8    88.6   -19.5    -.2      1.7     0       1.7
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................|  78.6    83.9    87.1    11.0    3.8      4.1     5.4     3.8
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 100.2    92.7   100.2   -15.2    8.1      -.2    -4.2     8.1
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 111.9   116.5   117.5    48.5     .9      4.0     6.5      .8
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................|  80.3    89.4    99.2     1.8   11.0     10.2     2.4     6.1
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 107.3   112.9   110.5    -4.3   -2.1      -.3     1.1    -2.1
04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 143.0   154.4   151.8    14.3   -1.7     -2.9    -1.3    -1.7
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  89.2    87.0    88.8    -5.1    2.1      2.3    -2.6     2.1
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................| 121.5   109.2   106.2    58.5   -2.7      9.0     9.0    -2.7
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  66.7    83.8    88.1   164.6    5.1      0      16.6     5.1
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 205.6   209.2   206.1     2.8   -1.5       .1     -.9    -1.6
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 234.6   285.9   315.9   122.2   10.5     18.4     -.9    10.5
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  94.8    94.8    94.8     -.4    0        0       0       0
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 154.7   162.1   159.8    27.4   -1.4      1.3    -3.7    -1.4
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  66.9    69.9    67.5    11.8   -3.4      2.7     3.2    -3.4
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 114.3   122.6   120.6    20.7   -1.6      4.6     1.1    -1.6
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 174.2   193.2   191.4    31.4    -.9      4.3     2.6     -.6
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 158.7   160.1   160.1     2.6    0        -.1      .4     -.1
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1/  The indexes for November 1999 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                    | Nov. 1999 | Feb. 2000 |March 2000 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   378.6   |   381.5   |   384.5   |
         | All commodities................................|   128.3   |   129.8   |   131.0   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   120.5   |   120.5   |   121.6   |
01       |   Farm products................................|    97.8   |    97.3   |   100.5   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   131.8   |   131.9   |   132.0   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   129.8   |   131.6   |   132.8   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   120.6   |   120.8   |   120.6   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   146.6   |   148.7   |   148.4   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    89.4   |    93.5   |    97.0   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   147.1   |   148.6   |   150.0   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   123.5   |   124.0   |   124.1   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   181.6   |   183.8   |   183.8   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   177.7   |   180.0   |   181.9   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   126.6   |   128.7   |   128.7   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   124.0   |   124.0   |   123.9   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   131.9   |   132.3   |   132.3   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   140.3   |   141.8   |   141.8   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   143.3   |   142.9   |   143.1   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   169.6   |   170.1   |   170.1   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   140.8   |   141.7   |   142.1   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   105.9   |   107.3   |   110.8   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|    77.2   |    82.4   |    85.9   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    89.6   |    92.4   |    98.3   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   137.7   |   113.4   |   117.8   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|    79.4   |    88.1   |    97.6   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   101.7   |   112.3   |    79.6   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|    97.1   |   103.3   |   106.8   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|    87.1   |    94.4   |    98.3   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   160.0   |   168.3   |   164.8   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   157.1   |   157.6   |   157.7   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   116.2   |   118.8   |   119.3   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   114.1   |   108.9   |   109.9   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   134.2   |   132.6   |   133.1   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   139.0   |   142.6   |   141.9   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   130.6   |   137.0   |   137.1   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   114.1   |   113.5   |   112.6   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   126.9   |   127.0   |   127.2   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   145.8   |   146.0   |   146.0   |
05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|   115.2   |   107.1   |   112.6   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   126.4   |   125.8   |   125.9   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    71.7   |    83.7   |    91.0   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   254.3   |   254.9   |   256.2   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   121.7   |   123.6   |   123.7   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   135.8   |   135.9   |   136.4   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   114.6   |   114.3   |   114.2   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   114.5   |   115.7   |   113.6   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   138.2   |   138.4   |   138.4   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   130.9   |   131.7   |   131.9   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   185.6   |   189.1   |   188.0   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   153.5   |   156.4   |   159.6   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   157.5   |   158.2   |   159.2   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   115.5   |   117.5   |   117.8   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   124.2   |   129.9   |   129.0   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   137.8   |   143.3   |   143.2   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   148.5   |   149.1   |   149.4   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   149.4   |   150.1   |   150.4   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   161.7   |   162.6   |   163.0   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   119.3   |   119.0   |   118.7   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   133.4   |   133.6   |   133.8   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   153.2   |   154.6   |   154.7   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   153.2   |   153.8   |   153.6   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   133.7   |   132.5   |   132.4   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   132.0   |   132.9   |   132.6   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   110.7   |   108.4   |   108.4   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   135.7   |   136.7   |   136.6   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|

1/  Data for November 1999 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 major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Mar._2000_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                  |                                              |     |Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   |  Mar.  |  Feb.
                  |                                              |     |1999 2/|2000 2/|2000 2/|  1999  |  2000
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  95.1    97.3   100.1     57.9      2.9
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  73.4    75.5    73.6      7.8     -2.5
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  86.1    84.6    85.8     -3.9      1.4
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 101.6   104.5   108.6     85.3      3.9
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 134.4   135.0   135.2      1.2       .1
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 130.3   132.0   133.0      5.3       .8
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 127.1   127.3   127.5      1.5       .2
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 344.5   348.6   347.3     10.0      -.4
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 115.9   116.3   116.0      -.9      -.3
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 125.4   125.3   125.3       .1    0
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 159.6   161.9   162.0      1.2       .1
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 142.0   142.4   142.8      1.6       .3
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 140.2   141.5   143.5      7.7      1.4
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 179.1   180.6   181.2      2.4       .3
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 153.0   154.1   154.8      4.9       .5
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  89.5   103.7   112.2     87.3      8.2
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 123.3   123.7   124.0      2.2       .2
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 137.0   137.5   137.5      1.0    0
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 133.7   134.5   134.7      2.3       .1
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 117.1   119.1   119.8      4.4       .6
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 129.6   130.1   130.4      1.3       .2
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 117.1   117.3   117.4    0           .1
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 109.1   108.8   108.5     -1.2      -.3
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 136.2   135.9   136.1      1.3       .1
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.3   126.0   125.9      -.4      -.1
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 130.2   131.0   130.9       .4      -.1
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Services industries                           |     |
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 101.6   102.1   102.2      1.3       .1
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 115.5   116.8   118.1      3.5      1.1
       43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 135.2   135.2   135.2      -.1    0
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 116.7   117.5   117.2     10.8      -.3
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 133.4   136.8   138.4      7.4      1.2
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86|  98.2   101.9   101.9      3.8    0
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 110.6   111.6   111.7      2.1       .1
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 109.5   110.2   110.6      2.2       .4
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 November 1999 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.  
   All indexes are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
Table 5.  Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |
                                                       |                      Index 1/   
                                                       |_____________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |        |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |  Oct.  |  Nov.  |  Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb.  |  Mar.  
                                                       |  1999  |  1999  |  1999  |  2000  |  2000  |  2000  
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
                                                       |
      Finished goods...................................|  134.6    134.7    135.0    135.0    136.4    137.7
        Finished consumer goods........................|  134.0    134.2    134.5    134.5    136.3    138.0
          Finished consumer foods......................|  135.7    135.4    135.5    135.7    136.3    136.5
            Crude......................................|  118.6    119.0    123.4    118.1    123.1    119.2
            Processed..................................|  137.1    136.7    136.5    137.1    137.4    137.9
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  133.2    133.5    133.9    133.8    136.1    138.4
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  131.3    131.9    132.4    132.2    135.7    138.8
            Durable goods..............................|  133.7    133.5    133.9    133.7    133.3    133.6
        Capital equipment..............................|  137.9    137.8    138.0    138.1    138.1    138.3
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  138.6    138.6    138.8    139.0    139.0    139.2
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  137.6    137.5    137.6    137.7    137.7    138.0
                                                       |
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  124.9    125.2    125.8    126.3    127.3    128.5
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  126.0    126.0    126.1    126.5    126.9    127.5
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  122.2    121.0    118.5    118.5    118.3    118.7
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  127.8    127.9    128.4    129.1    129.7    131.3
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  126.5    126.7    127.4    128.4    129.4    129.4
          Components for manufacturing.................|  125.8    125.8    125.8    125.7    125.6    125.7
        Materials and components for construction......|  149.1    149.5    149.9    150.5    150.9    151.4
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   88.6     90.2     92.6     93.4     97.2    101.3
          Manufacturing industries ....................|   91.2     92.9     94.4     94.0     96.4     98.9
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   86.8     88.4     91.3     92.7     97.3    102.3
        Containers.....................................|  146.3    146.4    146.4    147.2    147.3    148.4
        Supplies.......................................|  134.9    135.0    135.2    135.2    135.5    136.0
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  141.3    141.4    141.6    141.7    141.7    142.3
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  132.1    132.2    132.4    132.4    132.7    133.2
            Feeds......................................|   90.3     90.7     90.7     90.4     93.1     94.3
            Other supplies.............................|  137.1    137.2    137.4    137.4    137.5    137.9
                                                       |
      Crude materials for further processing...........|  104.2    109.6    104.6    107.4    111.9    113.9
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   99.2    100.2     98.1     98.8     99.5    103.0
        Nonfood materials..............................|  103.9    112.1    105.2    109.4    116.5    117.4
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|  100.8    105.2    109.9    111.9    119.5    122.2
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   92.2     96.3    100.8    102.6    109.9    112.5
            Construction...............................|  199.2    200.5    201.5    203.5    204.3    202.5
          Crude fuel 3/................................|   99.8    112.6     90.5     97.3    103.0    101.4
            Manufacturing industries...................|   99.6    112.3     90.5     96.2    103.1    100.7
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|  101.6    114.6     92.1     99.1    104.8    103.3
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  134.2    134.4    134.8    134.7    136.3    138.0
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  125.6    126.0    126.7    127.2    128.2    129.5
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  112.4    111.7    109.9    109.9    110.6    111.2
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|  104.4    112.9    105.7    109.9    117.2    118.0
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   83.1     84.0     84.8     85.4     89.8     95.0
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  143.8    143.6    143.8    143.6    144.1    144.3
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  146.2    146.1    146.2    145.9    146.6    146.8
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  147.0    146.9    147.0    146.7    147.2    147.4
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  153.0    152.9    153.1    152.5    153.3    153.4
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  168.1    168.2    168.2    167.1    168.9    168.9
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|   88.3     89.9     92.3     93.0     96.9    101.0
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  132.9    133.0    133.2    133.5    133.8    134.4
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  134.2    134.4    134.7    135.1    135.4    135.9
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   88.7     98.9     89.0     92.9    102.2    103.4
      Crude materials less energy......................|  110.1    111.2    110.5    112.3    112.7    115.2
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  142.0    143.4    146.5    151.2    150.9    150.6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 November 1999 have been
      recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.  
  2/  Includes crude petroleum.
  3/  Excludes crude petroleum.
Technical Notes





Brief Explanation of
Producer Price Indexes

     The term Producer Price Index (PPI) refers to a family of 
indexes that measure the average change over time in the selling 
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 may differ due to 
government subsidies, sales and excise taxes, and distribution 
costs.
     Over 10,000 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 transportation, utilities, trade, finance, and services 
sectors of the economy.
     Over 100,000 price quotations per month are organized into 
three sets of producer price indexes: (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 (tables 1, 2, and 5) organizes products by class of 
buyer and degree of fabrication.  The commodity structure 
(tables 2 and 3) 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 (table 4).
     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; and 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.
     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries and 
their products are grouped according to the Standard Industrial 
Classification (SIC).  Industry price indexes are compatible with 
other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such as data 
on employment, wages, and productivity.  Table 4 lists indexes 
for the net output of major mining and manufacturing industry 
groups at the 2-digit level.
     Producer price indexes 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.  BLS strongly 
encourages cooperating companies to supply actual transaction 
prices at the time of shipment to minimize the use of list 
prices.  Prices are normally reported by mail questionnaire for 
the Tuesday of the week containing the 13th.
     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential 
basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to 
individual company price reports.  The Bureau publishes price 
indexes instead of unit dollar prices.  All producer price 
indexes are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months
after original publication, to reflect the availability of 
late reports and corrections by respondents.
     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the 
PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing 
indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings, 
currently reflect 1992 values of shipments as reported in 
the Census of Manufactures and other sources.  From January 
1992 through December 1995, PPI weights were derived from 
1987 shipment values.  Industry indexes shown in table 4 are 
also now calculated with 1992 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 in one industry to establishments 
classified in another 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 all 
commodities index 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.
     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 changes to previously published percent 
changes for affected PPI series. (See "Calculating Index 
Changes," below.) The new reference base is not used for indexes 
with a base later than December 1981, nor for indexes for the 
net output of industries 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. 
Reprints are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on 
request.

Calculating Index Changes

     Each index measures price changes from a reference period 
which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). 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 
systematic sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to 
$105.50 today." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would indicate 
that prices received by producers of finished goods today 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 because index point changes are affected by the level 
of the index in relation to its base period, while percent changes 
are not.  The example below 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
                  
     Because price data are used for different purposes by different 
groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted 
as well as unadjusted changes each month.

Seasonally Adjusted
and Unadjusted Data

     Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing general 
price trends in the economy because they 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 which 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 BLS.)
     For more information, see "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.