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http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   MARCH 13, 1998
                                     
                  Producer Price Indexes -- February 1998

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.1 percent in
February, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This decline followed decreases of 0.7
percent in January and 0.2 percent in December.  The index for finished
goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.1 percent, after falling 0.1
percent a month ago.  Prices received by producers of intermediate goods
declined 0.2 percent, following a 0.6-percent drop in the prior month.  The
crude goods index fell 2.5 percent, after decreasing 4.5 percent in
January.  (See table A.)

     Among finished goods in February, the index for finished energy goods
decreased 1.8 percent, following a 3.7-percent decline in the previous
month.  Prices for finished consumer foods and finished consumer goods
other than foods and energy increased, after falling in the prior month.
Prices for capital equipment declined at the same rate as in January.

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   mediateCrude
                              and     months
Month  Total  Foods  Energy energy      ago      goods goods
                                     (unadj.)
 1997                                                     
 Feb.    -0.3   -0.4   -1.2     0.0         2.2   -0.1   -8.4
 Mar.    -0.2    0.9   -2.6     0.1         1.5   -0.3   -7.7
 Apr.    -0.4   -0.4   -2.2       0         0.8   -0.3    0.5
 May     -0.2    0.4   -1.0    -0.2         0.4   -0.1    1.9
 June    -0.2   -0.8   -0.2       0        -0.1   -0.1   -2.7
 July    -0.2   -0.3   -0.5    -0.1        -0.2   -0.2   -0.5
 Aug.     0.2   -0.1    0.9     0.1        -0.2    0.1    0.4
Sept.     0.4      0    1.1     0.4           0    0.2    1.3
 Oct.      r0   r0.7  r-0.5   r-0.1       r-0.3   -0.1   r4.6
 Nov.   r-0.1  r-0.4  r-0.2      r0        -0.6    0.2   r0.8
 Dec.    -0.2   -0.1   -0.8    -0.1        -1.2   -0.3   -5.2
                                                             
 1998                                                        
 Jan.    -0.7   -0.4   -3.7    -0.1        -1.8   -0.6   -4.5
 Feb.    -0.1    0.4   -1.8     0.1        -1.6   -0.2   -2.5
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for October 1997 
have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and 
corrections by respondents.
                                    -2-

     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods fell 0.1 percent in February to 130.1 (1982=100).  From February 1997
to February 1998, the Finished Goods Price Index decreased 1.6 percent.
Over the past 12 months, prices for finished consumer foods declined 0.1
percent, the index for finished energy goods fell 11.0 percent, and prices
for finished goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.1 percent.
Prices received by domestic producers of intermediate goods decreased 1.7
percent for the 12 months ended in February, and the index for crude goods
fell 13.5 percent during the same period.

Finished goods

     The index for finished energy goods declined 1.8 percent in February,
following a 3.7-percent decrease a month ago.  Prices for gasoline fell 6.4
percent, after a 7.9-percent decrease last month.  The indexes for home
heating oil, residential natural gas, and finished lubricants also fell
less than a month earlier.  Prices for residential electric power showed no
change, after a 1.3-percent decrease in the prior month.

     Prices for finished consumer foods advanced 0.4 percent in February,
following a 0.4-percent decline a month ago.  The index for fresh fruits
and melons increased 5.8 percent, after an 18.5-percent decrease in the
prior month.  Prices for dairy products, finfish and shellfish, and
processed fruits and vegetables also rose, after falling a month earlier.
The index for pork fell less than in the previous month.  Prices for
processed young chickens rose more than last month.  By contrast, the index
for fresh and dry vegetables advanced 3.9 percent, following a 12.9-percent
advance a month ago.  Prices for bakery products also rose less than a
month earlier.  The index for eggs for fresh use fell more than in January.

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                        Change in
                            intermedi                          crude
                               ate
                     Exclud   goods                  Excludi   goods
                      ing      from                    ng
                     foods  12 months         Energy  foods   from 12
                      and      ago                     and   months ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy  (unadj.)   Foods (unadj energy   (unadj.)
                                                .)
 1997                                                             
 Feb.    -0.1   -1.0    0.1        1.1   -1.7  -17.9    0.9     4.5
 Mar.     1.8   -3.3      0        0.6    1.7  -21.3    0.2     -2.2
 Apr.     0.4   -2.2      0       -0.1    3.0   -0.9   -2.1     -5.7
 May      0.4   -1.4    0.1       -0.6   -0.9    5.8    1.4     -4.7
 June    -1.3    0.1      0       -0.3   -4.7   -2.0   -0.2     -5.5
 July    -1.7   -0.9    0.1       -0.3   -0.6   -0.1   -0.5     -7.4
 Aug.    -0.4    0.6      0       -0.2   -0.4    0.8    1.3     -7.3
Sept.     1.1    0.6    0.1       -0.6   -0.3    4.4   -0.7     -3.9
 Oct.    -2.4   r0.6  r-0.1       -0.4   r1.1  r11.5  r-0.1     r1.3
 Nov.     1.6   r0.1    0.1       -0.1  r-0.3   r2.8  r-0.5     -0.9
 Dec.    -0.9   -1.6   -0.1       -0.8      0  -12.6   -1.4    -11.7
                                                                  
 1998                                                             
 Jan.    -3.2   -2.9   -0.1       -1.7   -3.3   -7.3   -2.2    -18.7
 Feb.    -0.1   -1.2   -0.1       -1.7   -0.7   -6.5    0.1    -13.5
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for October 1997 
have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and 
corrections by respondents.
                                    -3-

     Prices for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy
advanced 0.1 percent in February, following a 0.1-percent decline a month
ago.  The index for cigarettes increased 2.1 percent, after showing no
change in the prior month.  Prices for light motor trucks, floor coverings,
and men's and boy's apparel also rose, after falling a month earlier.  The
index for passenger cars fell less than in the previous month.  On the
other hand, the index for alcoholic beverages decreased 0.3 percent,
following a 0.3-percent increase a month ago.  Prices for prescription
drugs rose less than in the prior month.  The index for sanitary papers and
health products fell more than last month.

     Prices for capital equipment declined 0.1 percent in February,
following a 0.1-percent decline a month ago.  Falling prices for electronic
computers, heavy motor trucks, railroad equipment, and printing trades
machinery slightly outweighed rising prices for commercial furniture, light
motor trucks, civilian aircraft, and communication and related equipment.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components fell 0.2 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, after falling
0.6 percent a month earlier.  Prices for both intermediate energy goods and
intermediate foods and feeds fell less than in January.  The indexes for
intermediate materials for durable manufacturing and intermediate materials
for construction turned up, after falling in the previous month.  By
contrast, the index for materials for nondurable manufacturing fell more
than a month ago.  Excluding foods and energy, the intermediate materials
index decreased 0.1 percent for the third consecutive month.  (See table
B.)

     Prices for intermediate energy goods moved down 1.2 percent in
February, following a 2.9-percent drop in January.  The index for
industrial electric power fell 0.1 percent, after decreasing 0.9 percent a
month ago.  Prices for gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, #2 diesel fuel,
and commercial natural gas also fell less than in the prior month.  The
index for residual fuel turned up, after decreasing in January.
Conversely, price declines for natural gas to electric utilities
accelerated from 9.0 percent in January to 10.9 percent in February.  The
index for coke oven products turned down, after rising in the previous
month.

     The index for intermediate foods and feeds inched down 0.1 percent in
February, following a 3.2-percent decline in the prior month.  Prices for
prepared animal feeds dropped 3.5 percent, after decreasing 4.7 percent a
month ago.  The index for pork also fell less than in January.  Prices for
fluid milk products, flour, crude vegetable oils, and refined sugar turned
up, after falling in the previous month.  By contrast, the index for
natural, processed, and imitation cheese rose 0.2 percent, following a 1.6-
percent gain a month ago.  Prices for beef and veal also increased less
than in January.  The index for mayonnaise, salad dressings, and sandwich
spreads turned down, after rising in the prior month.
     
     The index for durable manufacturing materials increased 0.1 percent in
February, following a 0.7 percent decline in January.  Prices for building
paper and board rose 3.4 percent, after a 5.4-percent decrease in the prior
month.  The index for copper cathode and refined copper also increased,
following a decline in the previous month.  Prices for copper and brass
mill shapes and aluminum mill shapes fell less than a month ago.  The index
for silver increased more than in the prior month.  On the other hand,
prices for hot rolled sheet and strip fell 0.2 percent, following a 0.6-
percent gain in January.  The indexes for hardwood lumber and semi-finished
steel mill products also decreased, after rising in the prior month.
Prices for flat glass declined more than a month ago.
                                    -4-
     
     The index for construction materials moved up 0.1 percent in February,
after falling 0.2 percent in January.  Prices for softwood lumber rose 1.4
percent, following a 2.5-percent decline in the previous month.  The
indexes for plywood and switchgear also turned up, after falling in the
prior month.  Prices for plastic construction products decreased less than
a month ago.  The index for fabricated structural metal products moved up
slightly, after showing no change in January.  By contrast, prices for
nonferrous wire and cable decreased 1.1 percent, following a 0.6-percent
decline in the previous month.  The indexes for plumbing fixtures and brass
fittings and for asphalt felts and coatings also fell more than in the
prior month.  Prices for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment
turned down, after increasing slightly a month ago.
     
     The index for nondurable manufacturing materials fell 0.5 percent in
February, following a 0.1-percent drop in January.  Prices for basic
organic chemicals fell 2.2 percent, after declining 0.1 percent in the
previous month.  The indexes for woodpulp and for inedible fats and oils
also fell more than a month ago.  Prices for paper, paperboard, and for
plastic resins and materials turned down, after increasing in January.  The
index for gray fabrics rose less than in the previous month.  Conversely,
the index for processed yarns and threads rose 1.4 percent, after showing
no change in January.  Prices for basic inorganic chemicals, finished
fabrics, and synthetic fibers rose, after falling last month.  The index
for fertilizer materials decreased less than in January.
     
Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
declined 2.5 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, following a 4.5-
percent drop in January.  Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs and
for crude energy materials also fell less than in the prior month.  The
index for basic industrial materials turned up in February, after falling
in January.  (See table B.)
     
     Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs declined 0.7 percent in
February, after decreasing 3.3 percent in the prior month.  The index for
slaughter hogs fell 2.3 percent, following a drop of 19.6 percent a month
ago.  Prices for corn also fell less than in the previous month.  The
indexes for soybeans, fresh fruits and melons, and wheat turned up in
February, after declining in January.  By contrast, prices for slaughter
cattle decreased 4.8 percent in February, following a decline of 2.8
percent in January.  The indexes for fresh and dry vegetables, fluid milk,
and for slaughter broilers and fryers rose less than in the prior month.
     
     The index for crude energy materials decreased 6.5 percent in
February, after posting a 7.3-percent decline in January.  Prices for crude
petroleum fell 2.3 percent, following a 12.8-percent drop in the prior
month.  On the other hand, the index for coal turned down 3.2 percent,
after showing no change a month ago.  Prices for natural gas fell more than
in January.
     
     The index for crude nonfood materials less energy turned up 0.1
percent, following a 2.2-percent decline in the previous month.  Prices for
nonferrous metal ores rose 5.1 percent in February, after falling 1.6
percent in January.  The indexes for raw cotton, copper base scrap, and
leaf tobacco also turned up, after decreasing in the prior month.  Prices
for cattle hides and aluminum base scrap fell less than a month ago.  By
contrast, the index for iron and steel scrap turned down 2.3 percent,
following a gain of 0.1 percent in January.  Prices for hardwood logs,
bolts, and timber also fell, after rising in the previous month.  The index
for softwood logs, bolts, and timber decreased slightly more than a month
ago.
                                    -5-

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic
mining industries fell 4.4 percent in February, following a 5.9-percent
decline in January.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.)  The index for the oil and gas extraction industry group fell
5.7 percent, following a 7.7-percent drop in the previous month.  Prices
for the metal mining industry group rose 3.7 percent, after declining 1.3
percent a month ago.  Prices for the non-metallic mineral mining industry
group increased 0.5 percent, after rising the same amount last month.  By
contrast, prices for the coal mining industry group declined 2.6 percent,
following a 0.1-percent decrease in the prior month.  In February, the
Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic mining industries
stood at 74.5 (December 1984=100), 21.7 percent below its year-ago level.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total
domestic manufacturing industries declined 0.1 percent in February,
following a 0.6-percent decline in January.  Prices for the petroleum
refining and primary metal industry groups also fell less than the previous
month.  The tobacco manufactures, food and kindred products, and lumber and
wood products industry groups turned up, after falling one month ago.  The
index for textile mill products rose, after showing no change in the
previous month.  Prices for transportation equipment and for rubber and
plastic products industry groups showed no change, after falling in the
prior month.  The index for the measuring instruments industry group rose
more than in the previous month.  Conversely, prices for leather and
leather products, machinery (except electrical), and for chemical and
allied products industries fell, after rising in January.  The indexes for
the apparel and for printing and publishing industry groups rose less than
in the prior month.  In February, the Producer Price Index for the net
output of the total domestic manufacturing sector stood at 126.2 (December
1984=100), 1.3 percent below its year-ago level.

Other.  Among other industries in February, the indexes for the radio
broadcasting, passenger car rental (without drivers), freight
transportation arrangement, Mississippi river transportation of freight,
scheduled air transportation, travel agencies, telephone communications
(except radiotelephone), nonscheduled air transportation, railroads (line
haul operating), and marine cargo handling industry groups rose, after
falling in the previous month.  Prices for the airport services, electric
power utility services, natural gas utility services, and scrap and waste
materials industry groups fell less than in January.  The indexes for the
courier services (except by air), architectural services, and other
specialty hospitals (except psychiatric) industry groups rose more than in
the prior month.  Prices for the deep sea foreign transportation of
freight, refined petroleum pipelines, refrigerated warehousing and storage,
employment agencies, and psychiatric hospitals industry groups showed no
change after falling in the previous month.

     By contrast, the indexes for the home health care services and the
deep sea domestic transportation of freight industry groups fell more than
in January.  Prices for the engineering services, legal services, help
supply services, offices and clinics of doctors of medicine, cable and
other pay television services, freight transportation on the Great Lakes-
St. Lawrence Seaway, and operators and lessors of nonresidential buildings
industry groups rose less than in the prior month.  The indexes for the
local trucking without storage, general warehousing and storage, general
medical and surgical hospitals, accounting services, trucking (except
local), air courier services, and prepackaged software industry groups
fell, after rising in the previous month.

                                   *****
             Producer Price Index data for March 1998 will be
           released on Thursday, April 9, at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T.)
                                   *****
Information in this news release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-7828; TDD phone: 202-606-
5897; TDD Message Referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.


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|                       |Feb. 1998 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|_______________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |           Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   |  Feb. | Jan.  |Nov. to|Dec.  to |Jan.  to
                                                 |   1997 1/|1997 2/|1998 2/|1998 2/|  1997 | 1998  |  Dec. |   Jan.  |  Feb.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|____________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   132.3   130.2   130.1    -1.6   -0.1     -0.2     -0.7    -0.1
  Finished consumer goods........................|   74.733   130.7   128.2   128.1    -1.9    -.1      -.2      -.8     -.2
    Finished consumer foods......................|   23.171   135.1   132.8   133.6     -.1     .6      -.1      -.4      .4
      Crude......................................|    1.751   133.2   126.3   128.6    -3.5    1.8      3.2     -2.8     1.3
      Processed..................................|   21.420   135.2   133.3   134.0      .1     .5      -.4      -.2      .3
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.563   128.7   126.0   125.5    -2.7    -.4      -.2     -1.1     -.3
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.258   124.6   121.3   120.6    -3.4    -.6      -.2     -1.5     -.5
      Durable goods..............................|   16.304   134.7   133.6   133.5    -1.1    -.1      -.1      -.2     -.1
  Capital equipment..............................|   25.267   138.5   138.0   137.9     -.7    -.1      -.2      -.1     -.1
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.590   137.8   137.9   137.9     0      0        -.1       .1     0
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   18.677   138.6   138.0   137.8     -.9    -.1      -.2      -.1     -.1
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   125.5   124.2   124.0    -1.7    -.2      -.3      -.6     -.2
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   47.581   128.0   127.5   127.5     -.7    0        -.3      -.4     -.1
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.493   122.4   119.7   122.1     -.7    2.0     -1.0     -2.2     1.8
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   16.163   129.9   130.1   129.5     -.3    -.5      -.3      -.1     -.5
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.580   132.3   130.5   130.7    -1.4     .2      -.6      -.7      .1
    Components for manufacturing.................|   17.345   126.0   126.0   126.0     -.6    0        -.1      -.1     0
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.538   146.4   146.4   146.7      .7     .2      0        -.2      .1
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   13.022    89.1    83.3    82.0   -11.0   -1.6     -1.5     -2.9    -1.2
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    4.821    92.2    86.9    86.5    -8.1    -.5     -1.6     -2.5     -.2
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.201    87.1    81.1    79.3   -12.6   -2.2     -1.4     -3.1    -1.7
  Containers.....................................|    3.775   136.4   140.7   140.8     2.8     .1      1.7       .7      .1
  Supplies.......................................|   22.084   135.8   135.5   135.2     -.2    -.2      -.1      -.4     -.1
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    4.940   140.0   140.4   140.5     1.2     .1      0        0        .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.144   133.6   133.1   132.8     -.7    -.2      -.1      -.6     -.2
      Feeds......................................|    1.613   122.1   116.1   111.1   -13.1   -4.3      -.6     -5.5    -4.2
      Other supplies.............................|   15.531   135.2   135.4   135.5      .7     .1      -.1      0        .1
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   112.7   102.7   100.4   -13.5   -2.2     -5.2     -4.5    -2.5
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   42.215   110.1   105.4   105.1    -5.3    -.3      0       -3.3     -.7
  Nonfood materials..............................|   57.785   110.3    97.1    93.5   -18.8   -3.7     -8.6     -5.5    -3.9
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   33.354   102.7    93.0    92.7   -14.2    -.3     -3.4     -5.8     -.8
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   32.018    94.2    84.7    84.4   -15.3    -.4     -3.7     -6.0     -.7
      Construction...............................|    1.336   199.9   200.7   200.9     -.3     .1      -.5      -.4    -1.1
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   24.431   112.9    94.9    87.1   -25.3   -8.2    -16.2     -5.0    -8.2
      Manufacturing industries...................|    2.029   108.7    92.0    85.2   -23.9   -7.4    -15.1     -5.2    -7.4
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   22.402   115.5    96.8    88.8   -25.6   -8.3    -16.5     -5.0    -8.3
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.829   131.3   129.3   129.0    -2.1    -.2      -.2      -.8     -.2
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 94.894   125.6   124.5   124.3    -1.5    -.2      -.3      -.5     -.2
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  5.106   122.6   118.8   118.9    -4.7     .1      -.9     -3.2     -.1
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 55.171   110.1    96.6    92.7   -19.3   -4.0     -8.9     -5.5    -4.2
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.575    83.2    77.4    75.8   -11.0   -2.1      -.8     -3.7    -1.8
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.425   140.9   139.9   140.2     0       .2      -.1      -.2      .1
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.158   141.8   140.6   141.1      .3     .4      -.1      -.2      .3
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 63.254   143.0   142.7   142.8      .1     .1      -.1      -.1      .1
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 37.988   146.0   145.6   145.8      .5     .1      0        -.1      .1
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.684   154.3   154.4   154.9     1.7     .3       .1      -.1      .3
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 13.132    88.8    83.0    81.8   -10.9   -1.4     -1.6     -2.9    -1.2
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 86.868   133.5   133.3   133.3     -.2    0        -.1      -.3     -.1
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.762   134.2   134.3   134.2     0      -.1      -.1      -.1     -.1
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 36.173    92.8    77.3    72.3   -26.2   -6.5    -12.6     -7.3    -6.5
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 63.827   121.5   116.8   116.8    -5.3    0        -.5     -2.9     -.4
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.612   155.0   150.1   151.0    -5.0     .6     -1.4     -2.2      .1
                                                 |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 October 1997 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 |                                                       |                       |Feb. 1998 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   | Feb.  | Jan.  |Nov. to|Dec. to|Jan. to
           |                                                       |1997 1/|1998 1/|1998 1/| 1997  | 1998  |  Dec. |  Jan. |  Feb.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 132.3   130.2   130.1    -1.6   -0.1     -0.2    -0.7    -0.1
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 130.7   128.2   128.1    -1.9    -.1      -.2     -.8     -.2
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 135.1   132.8   133.6     -.1     .6      -.1     -.4      .4
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  97.7    87.4    92.5   -17.2    5.8     22.2   -18.5     5.8
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 148.8   143.1   148.7    20.6    3.9     -2.5    12.9     3.9
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  90.1    98.3    86.0   -18.7  -12.5     -7.4     -.6   -13.9
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 174.6   175.1   175.2     1.2     .1      0        .3      .1
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 126.7   125.9   124.6    -3.7   -1.0      -.1     -.9    -1.0
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 123.6   123.5   123.5    -2.7    0        0       -.1     0
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................| 103.3   100.0   101.1     3.3    1.1     -1.2      .8      .6
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 116.8    98.1    97.4   -20.4    -.7     -1.9    -9.0    -3.7
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 117.2   112.1   117.0    -2.8    4.4      -.8     1.1     5.0
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................| 102.6    92.7    90.2    -7.9   -2.7     -1.4    -1.7    -3.7
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 187.8   190.0   193.6    11.8    1.9      -.2     -.8     3.3
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 130.4   129.9   133.5     4.9    2.8      1.1    -1.7     3.1
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 125.6   124.5   125.3    -2.0     .6      -.2     -.2      .6
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 168.1   168.0   167.9     -.3    -.1      -.1     -.1     -.1
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 132.9   133.1   134.2      .4     .8       .1     -.2      .2
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 160.4   150.9   151.1    18.3     .1      -.8     -.2      .1
02-76      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 140.0   138.2   141.5     4.0    2.4     -5.3      .9     2.4
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 128.7   126.0   125.5    -2.7    -.4      -.2    -1.1     -.3
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 134.0   135.1   135.1     0      0         .3      .3     -.3
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 120.6   120.5   120.6      .3     .1       .2     0        .1
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 133.1   132.3   132.9      .5     .5       .1     -.8      .4
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 122.2   123.2   123.1     -.7    -.1      0        .6     -.1
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.9   123.2   123.5     1.1     .2       .2      .2      .2
04-3       |   Footwear............................................| 144.2   144.6   144.7     1.0     .1      0        .1     -.1
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 113.4   109.1   108.9    -1.5    -.2      -.3    -1.3     0
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 118.2   116.5   113.5    -7.1   -2.6     -2.1    -3.3    -1.7
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  70.5    59.3    55.6   -25.9   -6.2       .9    -7.9    -6.4
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  66.0    55.2    53.9   -25.6   -2.4     -7.3    -8.9     -.7
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription)........| 275.7   279.4   280.5     3.5     .4       .1      .8      .3
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter).....| 184.6   184.9   185.0     -.4     .1      0       -.2     -.2
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 126.8   125.9   126.3      .2     .3      0       -.8      .3
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 130.6   130.8   131.6      .7     .6      -.2      .3      .6
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  94.1    94.1    94.2    -1.6     .1      -.2      .2      .1
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 146.6   145.6   145.0    -1.8    -.4      -.1     -.1     -.4
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 202.1   202.3   202.3      .3    0        0        .1     0
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 190.3   190.8   190.9     1.9     .1      0      -1.1      .4
09-33      |   Book publishing 2/..................................| 203.4   203.9   205.9     3.5    1.0      0        .1     1.0
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 146.6   147.3   147.7     1.4     .3      0        .3      .3
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 128.5   126.8   128.3     -.4    1.2       .3     -.6     1.2
12-4       |   Household appliances 2/.............................| 109.2   109.0   108.8    -2.0    -.2      -.3     0       -.2
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  75.8    75.8    75.8    -3.2    0        0       -.3     0
12-62      |   Household glassware 2/..............................| 162.1   162.0   161.9     2.1    -.1      -.1     -.2     -.1
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 138.4   139.2   138.9      .2    -.2       .6     0       -.2
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 130.8   131.1   130.8    -1.7    -.2       .5     0       -.2
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 136.4   133.7   133.3    -2.5    -.3      -.4     -.5     -.3
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 125.2   125.2   124.3     -.9    -.7      0       -.1    -1.3
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 125.4   125.5   125.9     1.9     .3      -.2      .4      .3
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 256.4   257.2   261.9     9.5    1.8       .7     -.3     1.8
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 152.9   153.0   153.1     1.3     .1      -.2      .1      .1
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 129.5   128.5   129.5     1.2     .8      -.4     -.2      .8
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 140.9   140.9   138.8     -.7   -1.5      -.1     0      -1.5
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.5   138.0   137.9     -.7    -.1      -.2     -.1     -.1
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 149.5   148.2   148.5     0       .2      -.1     -.1      .2
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 142.7   143.9   144.3     1.6     .3       .1     0        .1
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 157.3   158.7   159.8     3.4     .7       .4      .2      .7
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 155.3   154.7   155.4     2.0     .5       .2     -.3      .5
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 138.3   138.5   138.7      .8     .1      -.3      .1      .1
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 147.2   148.0   148.2     1.9     .1      0       -.1      .2
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 130.1   130.5   130.5     1.3    0        0        .2     0
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............|  30.7    28.9    27.0   -26.4   -6.6     -1.7    -3.0    -6.6
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 152.5   152.6   152.8      .9     .1      -.1      .2      .1
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 157.9   158.6   160.0     2.3     .9       .1      .1      .8
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 138.7   139.1   138.9     -.1    -.1      -.1     -.1     -.1
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 130.2   128.8   128.8      .2    0       -1.4     -.1     0
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 114.1   114.7   114.8      .7     .1      -.1      .1      .1
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 107.0   106.8   107.3     -.6     .5      0       0        .5
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery 2/................| 124.0   125.0   125.2     3.2     .2      0        .5      .2
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 141.7   142.1   141.9     2.5    -.1       .4      .4     -.1
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.6   112.2   112.2      .4    0        -.1     -.3     0
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 154.6   155.2   155.8     1.6     .4       .1      .1      .4
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 160.4   156.4   156.1    -3.6    -.2     -1.2     -.8      .1
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 139.2   140.2   139.9     -.1    -.2       .1      .3     -.2
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 129.8   133.6   133.8     2.8     .1       .2     2.8      .1
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 150.1   149.9   150.0      .2     .1       .1     -.3      .1
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 144.7   145.3   145.4     2.0     .1      0       0        .1
14-4       |   Railroad equipment..................................| 134.7   134.5   134.0    -1.9    -.4      -.4     -.4     -.6
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 125.5   124.2   124.0    -1.7    -.2      -.3     -.6     -.2
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 122.6   118.8   118.9    -4.7     .1      -.9    -3.2     -.1
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 115.4   109.9   111.5    -8.8    1.5     -1.6    -3.0     1.5
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 121.4   119.1   121.0    -3.6    1.6      -.4     -.5     1.6
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................|  98.0    93.8    95.8   -11.1    2.1     -4.6     2.7     2.4
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 118.0   125.9   130.8    16.0    3.9       .2     -.4     3.9
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 126.7   121.7   117.4   -10.9   -3.5      -.2    -4.7    -3.5
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 125.6   124.5   124.3    -1.5    -.2      -.3     -.5     -.2
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 110.5   110.0   111.1     -.3    1.0      -.3     -.2     1.0
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 114.0   113.3   114.9      .4    1.4      -.3     0       1.4
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 122.1   122.8   123.2     1.2     .3       .3      .8      .3
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 124.1   123.8   124.0      .2     .2      -.1     -.1      .1
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 127.7   131.0   130.9     3.8    -.1      -.2     2.5     -.1
04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 182.1   181.5   179.7    -3.0   -1.0     -1.0    -1.4    -1.4
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  83.6    74.3    72.0   -30.2   -3.1     -3.6    -9.3    -3.1
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 |                                                       |                       |Feb. 1998 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   | Feb.  | Jan.  |Nov. to|Dec. to|Jan. to
           |                                                       |1997 1/|1998 1/|1998 1/| 1997  | 1998  |  Dec. |  Jan. |  Feb.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 131.2   127.4   127.0    -0.5   -0.3      0.2    -0.5    -0.2
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 130.1   127.4   127.1     -.8    -.2       .1     -.9     -.1
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 110.0   110.8   108.7    -8.7   -1.9     -4.4    -4.5    -1.5
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 111.0   111.4   107.9   -11.5   -3.1     -6.1    -3.6    -1.9
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  89.1    96.4    89.0   -22.3   -7.7     -4.5    -9.0   -10.9
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  62.1    55.3    52.1   -30.3   -5.8     -3.1    -3.4    -3.0
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  64.7    54.2    51.3   -29.8   -5.4     -6.1    -5.1    -3.4
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  69.2    47.8    53.8   -12.4   12.6    -12.4   -11.8    12.6
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 126.2   126.8   124.9    -2.2   -1.5      -.2     -.2    -1.5
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 152.4   152.7   153.1     1.3     .3       .1      .1      .1
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 142.5   143.1   143.4     2.3     .2       .1      .4      .2
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 135.0   135.2   135.0     2.1    -.1      0        .3     -.1
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 136.7   131.8   112.0   -23.5  -15.0      -.4    -7.9   -15.0
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 113.7   114.2   113.9      .6    -.3      -.2      .1    -1.0
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 124.7   117.2   116.3   -17.2    -.8     -7.0    -3.9    -1.8
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 109.2   110.0   109.9    -1.5    -.1       .1    -1.1     -.1
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals........................| 149.7   151.0   150.2     3.7    -.5      -.2      .4     -.5
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 135.9   133.9   132.7    -3.5    -.9      -.8      .5     -.9
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 118.5   117.6   117.6    -2.9    0        -.2     -.5     0
07-21      |   Plastic construction products 2/....................| 128.1   126.8   126.5    -1.2    -.2       .1    -1.0     -.2
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes.....| 131.3   129.8   130.2    -1.6     .3      -.1    -1.1      .2
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.1   117.2   117.1     -.3    -.1      0        .1     -.1
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 194.4   191.8   194.4    -7.2    1.4      -.1    -2.5     1.4
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber 2/..................................| 177.2   180.0   179.9     6.0    -.1       .4      .8     -.1
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 171.0   170.6   170.8      .3     .1       .1     -.1      .1
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 156.0   152.9   153.6    -3.3     .5     -2.5     -.6      .5
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 133.2   132.5   126.5     1.0   -4.5       .2     -.6    -4.5
09-13      |   Paper...............................................| 146.1   148.3   148.0     5.0    -.2       .1     1.2     -.3
09-14      |   Paperboard..........................................| 150.1   156.2   156.5     8.5     .2       .1     1.4     -.1
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 145.2   154.0   153.7     5.1    -.2      3.5     1.4     -.2
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 127.9   127.3   131.6      .5    3.4      -.4    -5.4     3.4
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 150.6   151.1   151.3     2.4     .1      0       0        .1
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 134.1   134.9   134.9      .7    0         .1      .2     -.2
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 116.6   116.3   116.2      .1    -.1      -.6      .1     -.1
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 122.6   113.0   113.1   -11.4     .1     -2.7    -3.3      .1
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 149.7   147.5   146.6     1.7    -.6      0      -1.3     -.6
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 172.4   160.8   160.3   -10.2    -.3      -.8    -4.2     -.3
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 146.6   143.3   141.7    -4.2   -1.1     -1.2     -.6    -1.1
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 108.9   107.7   108.9      .8    1.1      0       0       1.1
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 146.0   146.5   146.6     1.3     .1       .1     -.1      .1
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 174.9   175.1   175.5      .7     .2       .2     -.1     -.6
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 152.9   154.3   154.4     1.6     .1       .5     -.3     -.1
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 141.2   141.6   141.6     1.8    0         .1     0        .1
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 129.2   129.2   129.4     1.8     .2      -.2      .2      .2
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 126.3   126.4   126.4      .1    0        0        .1     0
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 155.1   156.7   156.9     1.6     .1       .2     -.3      .1
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 132.6   133.2   133.0      .5    -.2       .4      .1     -.3
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 154.0   154.3   154.9     2.0     .4       .1      .1      .4
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 163.3   164.6   164.8     2.4     .1       .1     -.1     -.1
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 154.5   154.5   154.7     1.3     .1       .1     -.3     -.1
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 144.6   145.0   144.3     -.1    -.5      -.3      .2     -.5
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 146.0   146.9   147.5     2.0     .4      0       -.1      .2
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............| 101.9   101.6   101.1    -4.6    -.5      -.4     -.4     -.5
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 140.4   140.3   140.2      .4    -.1       .1     -.4     -.1
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 135.5   135.4   135.8      .7     .3      -.1      .1      .3
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 108.4   108.4   107.5    -1.1    -.8      -.1     -.1     -.8
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 140.9   140.7   141.0     3.1     .2       .6      .1      .3
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 136.5   137.1   137.6     1.8     .4       .1     0        .4
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................|  99.4    98.7    98.5    -1.4    -.2      -.4     -.1     -.2
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 173.7   171.7   171.6     2.0    -.1      -.5     -.2     -.1
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 125.7   125.9   125.9     -.1    0        0       0       0
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 115.2   114.4   114.7     -.9     .3      0       -.4      .3
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 134.1   135.9   135.3    -1.2    -.4       .7     -.4     -.1
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 141.1   140.5   141.5      .1     .7      -.1      .4      .7
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 130.6   128.8   128.9     -.3     .1       .5    -1.4      .1
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 143.2   143.4   144.1      .8     .5       .1      .1      .2
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 112.7   102.7   100.4   -13.5   -2.2     -5.2    -4.5    -2.5
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 110.1   105.4   105.1    -5.3    -.3      0      -3.3     -.7
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................| 102.2    94.7    95.8   -14.8    1.2      -.7    -6.3     1.2
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................| 109.5   106.3   106.7    -1.6     .4      1.0    -7.2     -.8
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle....................................|  97.4    95.6    91.8    -2.3   -4.0      1.3    -2.8    -4.8
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  76.9    55.7    58.5   -33.1    5.0     -5.8   -19.6    -2.3
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 125.4   125.1   124.7   -11.0    -.3      -.2     6.2     4.9
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 111.5    89.8    88.5   -11.3   -1.4     -1.1    -2.6    -2.0
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 101.3   105.8   105.9     8.3     .1      3.8     2.2     1.2
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................| 119.1   113.2   116.9    -8.0    3.3     -5.4    -3.9     3.3
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 118.1   116.5   116.4     1.1    -.1       .1     0       -.1

           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 110.3    97.1    93.5   -18.8   -3.7     -8.6    -5.5    -3.9
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................| 116.0   103.3   108.0    -7.5    4.5     -9.6    -5.6     3.4
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 105.5   110.8   115.2    -4.6    4.0      8.8    -1.6     4.0
04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 183.0   156.8   154.6   -26.2   -1.4     -2.0   -16.3    -1.4
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  94.9    96.2    93.1    -1.6   -3.2      2.0     0      -3.2
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................| 115.7    93.3    84.0   -29.9  -10.0    -18.7    -6.9   -10.0
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  57.3    44.3    43.3   -32.9   -2.3     -9.9   -12.8    -2.3
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 211.3   213.5   213.9     -.9     .2      -.4     -.8    -1.4
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 168.4   163.1   164.1     4.2     .6      -.2    -1.0      .6
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  95.2    95.2    95.2    -4.5    0        (3)     (3)     0
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 191.2   198.0   193.4     1.2   -2.3       .4      .1    -2.3
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  79.0    66.5    69.9   -17.6    5.1     -7.9    -1.6     5.1
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 146.6   122.2   122.7   -25.5     .4     -5.1    -9.2      .4
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 194.2   185.6   184.6    -5.6    -.5     -2.2    -6.1    -3.6
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 148.7   149.9   150.7     2.5     .5       .3      .1      .7
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1/  The indexes for October 1997 have been recalculated to incorporate                     2/  Not seasonally adjusted.
    late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are                            3/  Not available.
    subject 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                    | Oct. 1997 | Jan. 1998 | Feb. 1998 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   371.2   |   365.4   |   365.1   |
         | All commodities................................|   127.8   |   125.5   |   125.1   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   126.1   |   122.9   |   123.4   |
01       |   Farm products................................|   111.0   |   106.1   |   106.2   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   133.5   |   131.2   |   131.8   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   128.1   |   126.0   |   125.4   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   122.7   |   122.8   |   123.2   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   152.6   |   149.2   |   148.5   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    87.2   |    79.1   |    76.8   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   143.6   |   143.7   |   143.1   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   123.1   |   122.9   |   122.9   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   181.1   |   181.3   |   182.3   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   169.5   |   172.1   |   172.1   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   131.7   |   130.1   |   130.2   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   125.4   |   125.5   |   125.4   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   130.6   |   130.8   |   131.1   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   133.6   |   134.0   |   134.0   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   142.3   |   141.2   |   141.2   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   152.5   |   152.7   |   153.6   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   139.4   |   139.3   |   139.3   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   124.7   |   116.9   |   122.1   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|   109.1   |   104.4   |   105.2   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    93.0   |    85.6   |    83.6   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   121.7   |   116.9   |   116.1   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|   116.8   |   104.1   |   108.1   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   111.6   |   117.4   |   103.2   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   142.5   |   136.6   |   139.5   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   129.5   |   123.9   |   126.9   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   157.4   |   165.3   |   171.8   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   157.9   |   157.3   |   157.4   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   118.2   |   112.3   |   113.3   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   117.0   |   112.6   |   114.7   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   135.4   |   133.9   |   134.6   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   137.9   |   137.4   |   137.9   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   154.2   |   146.4   |   146.5   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   133.0   |   134.8   |   138.6   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.9   |   125.7   |   125.9   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   144.2   |   144.9   |   144.8   |
05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|   105.9   |    87.2   |    79.8   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   131.5   |   127.5   |   127.2   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    67.7   |    57.1   |    54.6   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   220.4   |   222.0   |   223.6   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   131.3   |   130.5   |   129.9   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   133.7   |   133.9   |   134.1   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   115.3   |   115.4   |   115.4   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   117.8   |   117.0   |   117.0   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   138.1   |   138.7   |   138.5   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   130.0   |   129.7   |   129.7   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   187.1   |   186.1   |   187.9   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   146.4   |   149.5   |   149.0   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   148.6   |   152.5   |   152.1   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   126.8   |   127.4   |   126.8   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   135.0   |   127.7   |   128.2   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   145.3   |   141.7   |   141.4   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   145.8   |   146.5   |   146.9   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   145.4   |   146.1   |   146.2   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   157.2   |   158.0   |   158.2   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   121.6   |   121.8   |   121.7   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   131.3   |   131.3   |   131.5   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   149.4   |   150.3   |   150.5   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   143.4   |   144.0   |   144.6   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   133.9   |   132.0   |   131.9   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   131.9   |   132.1   |   132.1   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   118.6   |   117.1   |   117.2   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   133.5   |   133.9   |   134.1   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|

1/  Data for October 1997 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_Feb._1998_from:__
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                  |                                              |     |Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   |  Feb.  |  Jan.
                  |                                              |     |1997 2/|1998 2/|1998 2/|  1997  |  1998
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|___________
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  90.2    77.9    74.5   -21.7    -4.4
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  83.2    73.1    75.8   -14.4     3.7
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  91.3    92.1    89.7    -1.8    -2.6
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  93.4    77.6    73.2   -26.5    -5.7
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 129.6   130.3   131.0     2.6      .5
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 127.6   126.3   126.2    -1.3     -.1
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 127.5   125.7   126.1     -.8      .3
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 219.4   219.3   223.8    11.2     2.1
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 119.1   118.7   119.6      .7      .8
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 123.4   124.1   124.4     1.2      .2
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 157.3   157.5   158.6      .3      .7
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 138.6   139.2   139.6     1.5      .3
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 134.6   137.7   137.3     2.8     -.3
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 170.7   172.5   173.1     3.0      .3
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 147.3   147.6   147.4      .4     -.1
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  84.8    73.7    70.6   -22.6    -4.2
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 122.7   122.6   122.6     -.2     0
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 137.5   137.7   137.5      .1     -.1
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 127.8   127.9   128.0      .9      .1
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 124.8   123.4   123.1     -.7     -.2
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 128.1   128.3   128.5     1.2      .2
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 118.1   118.2   118.0     -.8     -.2
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 110.8   110.7   110.6    -1.4     -.1
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 135.0   133.8   133.8    -1.2     0
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.7   126.0   126.4      .8      .3
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 129.4   129.5   129.7      .8      .2
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Services industries                           |     |
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 100.9   100.8   101.1     1.1      .3
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 109.3   110.4   110.8     2.1      .4
       43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3   132.3   132.3     0       0
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 104.6   102.9   101.9    -2.2    -1.0
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 123.7   122.5   123.7    -4.0     1.0
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86|  98.7    99.3    99.3      .5     0
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 106.3   107.1   107.1     1.2     0
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 102.8   103.9   104.2     2.3      .3
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes shown in table 5.
   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 shown in table 6.
2/ The indexes for October 1997 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.
Table 5.  Producer Price Indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |      
                                                       |                      Index 1/   
                                                       |________________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |         |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |   Sep.  |  Oct.  |  Nov.  |  Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb. 
                                                       |   1997  |  1997  |  1997  |  1997  |  1998  |  1998
_______________________________________________________|_________|________|________|________|________|_________
      Finished goods...................................|   131.8    131.8    131.7    131.4    130.5	130.4
        Finished consumer goods........................|   130.1    130.3    130.1    129.8    128.7	128.5
          Finished consumer foods......................|   133.8    134.7    134.2    134.1    133.5	134.1
            Crude......................................|   119.0    132.9    128.3    132.4    128.7	130.4
            Processed..................................|   134.9    134.8    134.7    134.2    133.9	134.3
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   128.3    128.2    128.1    127.8    126.4	126.0
            Nondurable goods less foods................|   124.6    124.3    124.2    123.9    122.1	121.5
            Durable goods..............................|   133.6    133.7    133.6    133.4    133.1	133.0
        Capital equipment..............................|   138.4    138.0    138.1    137.8    137.7	137.6
          Manufacturing industries.....................|   137.8    137.6    137.8    137.6    137.8	137.8
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   138.5    138.1    138.1    137.8    137.6	137.4
                                                       |   
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|   125.5    125.4    125.7    125.3    124.5	124.2
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   128.3    128.0    128.4    128.0    127.5	127.4
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|   122.2    122.1    124.2    123.0    120.3	122.5
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   129.9    129.9    130.5    130.1    130.0	129.3
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   133.0    132.3    132.2    131.4    130.5	130.6
          Components for manufacturing.................|   126.2    126.0    126.1    126.0    125.9	125.9
        Materials and components for construction......|   146.9    146.5    146.7    146.7    146.4	146.6
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|    88.1     88.6     88.6     87.3     84.8	 83.8
          Manufacturing industries ....................|    91.2     91.9     92.1     90.6     88.3	 88.1
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    86.1     86.5     86.4     85.2     82.6	 81.2
        Containers.....................................|   135.4    136.4    137.2    139.5    140.5	140.6
        Supplies.......................................|   136.3    135.9    136.1    136.0    135.4	135.2
          Manufacturing industries.....................|   139.6    140.1    140.3    140.3    140.3	140.4
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   134.5    133.7    133.9    133.8    133.0	132.7
            Feeds......................................|   131.4    122.3    123.6    122.8    116.0	111.1
            Other supplies.............................|   135.0    135.3    135.4    135.3    135.3	135.4
                                                       |   
      Crude materials for further processing...........|   108.2    113.2    114.1    108.2    103.3	100.7
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   109.5    110.7    110.4    110.4    106.8	106.0
        Nonfood materials..............................|   103.4    110.7    112.4    102.7     97.1	 93.3
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|   101.4    103.3    102.3     98.8     93.1	 92.4
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|    92.7     94.7     93.7     90.2     84.8	 84.2
            Construction...............................|   203.6    201.8    201.5    200.5    199.6	197.4
          Crude fuel 3/................................|    97.1    112.9    119.2     99.9     94.9	 87.1
            Manufacturing industries...................|    94.5    108.7    114.3     97.0     92.0	 85.2
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|    99.0    115.5    122.1    101.9     96.8	 88.8
                                                       |  
                     Special groupings                 |   
                                                       |   
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|   131.1    130.9    130.8    130.5    129.5	129.2
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|   125.6    125.6    125.8    125.4    124.8	124.5
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|   125.4    122.4    124.3    123.2    119.2	119.1
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|   102.9    110.3    112.2    102.2     96.6	 92.5
                                                       |   
      Finished energy goods............................|    83.1     82.7     82.5     81.8     78.8	 77.4
      Finished goods less energy.......................|   140.3    140.5    140.3    140.2    139.9	140.1
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|   141.0    141.4    141.1    141.0    140.7	141.1
                                                       |   
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|   142.7    142.6    142.6    142.5    142.3	142.5
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|   145.5    145.6    145.5    145.5    145.3	145.5
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|   154.3    154.4    154.2    154.4    154.3	154.8
                                                       |   
      Intermediate energy goods........................|    87.8     88.3     88.4     87.0     84.5	 83.5
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|   133.8    133.6    133.9    133.7    133.3	133.2
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|   134.4    134.3    134.5    134.4    134.2	134.1
                                                       |  
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|    83.2     92.8     95.4     83.4     77.3	 72.3
      Crude materials less energy......................|   121.6    122.4    122.0    121.4    117.9	117.4
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|   156.8    156.6    155.8    153.6    150.2	150.4
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  All seasonally adjusted indexes are subject to change up to five years after original publication 
      due to the recalculation of seasonal factors each January.  The indexes for October 1997 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

     Producer price indexes (PPI) measure average changes in
prices received by domestic producers of commodities in all
stages of processing. Most of the information used in
calculating the indexes is obtained through the systematic
sampling of nearly every industry in the manufacturing and
mining sectors of the economy. The PPI program also includes
some information from other sectors--agriculture, fishing,
forestry, services, and gas and electricity. Because
producer price indexes are designed to measure only the
change in prices received for the output of domestic
industries, imports are not included. The sample currently
contains about 3,200 commodities and 80,000 quotations per
month.
     There are three primary systems of indexes within the
PPI program: (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 and 2) organizes products by class of buyer and
degree of processing. 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) and the Census product code
extension of the 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. 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.
     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.
     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 1987 values of shipments as reported in
the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January
1987 through December 1991, PPI weights were derived from
1982 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are
also now calculated with 1987 net output weights.
     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, to coincide
with the reference year of the shipment weights. 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 16,
"Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (September
1992), Bulletin 2414. Reprints are available from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics on request.

Calculating Index Changes

     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 chances are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period, while percent changes are not. The box shows the
computation of index point and percent changes.
     Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods can be
expressed as annual rates that are computed according to the
standard formula for compound growth rates. These data
indicate what the percent change would be if the rate for a
given 3- or 6-month span were maintained for a 12-month
period.





                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

     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 to-day." 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.

Seasonally Adjusted
and Unadjusted Data

     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 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 (September 1992), Bulletin 2414.