FOR DATA ONLY:  (202) 691-5200      USDL 03-14
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:          TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
(202) 691-7705                      THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
MEDIA CONTACT:  (202) 691-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST), WEDNESDAY,
http://www.bls.gov/ppi              JANUARY 15, 2003
                                     
                  Producer Price Indexes -- December 2002

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods showed no change in
December, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This followed a 0.4-percent decline in
November and a 1.1-percent advance in October.  At the earlier stages of
processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods decreased
0.1 percent for the second consecutive month.  The crude goods index rose
1.9 percent, after increasing 5.1 percent in November.  (See table A.)

 Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-processing price
 indexes, seasonally adjusted
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
|        |                                                         |         |         |
|        |                   Finished  goods                       |         |         |
|        |                                                         |         |         |
|        |---------------------------------------------------------|         |         |
|        |          |          |          |         |  Change in   |         |         |
|        |          |          |          | Except  |finished goods| Inter-  |         |
|        |          |          |          |foods and|from 12 months| mediate |  Crude  |
| Month  |  Total   |  Foods   |  Energy  | energy  |  ago(unadj.) | goods   |  goods  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
  2001                                                     
    Dec.     -0.4       -0.1       -3.0       0.2         -1.6        -0.6       -7.2
                                                                                
  2002                                                                          
    Jan.        0         .8        -.5       -.2         -2.7         -.2        4.6
    Feb.       .2         .8          0        .1         -2.6         -.2       -1.2
    Mar.       .9         .6        5.7       -.1         -1.6         1.0        5.0
    Apr.      -.1       -3.0        2.5        .1         -2.1          .8        4.2
    May       -.4        -.2       -2.3         0         -2.9         -.2         .8
    June       .1         .2        -.1        .1         -2.3          .2       -3.7
    July      -.2        -.1         .8       -.4         -1.2          .3        1.3
    Aug.       .1        -.4      r 1.4     r -.1       r -1.5        r .3      r 1.9
    Sept.      .1      r -.7       r .6        .1         -1.9          .5       r .3
    Oct.      1.1         .7        4.2        .5           .6          .7        3.4
    Nov.      -.4         .3       -1.8       -.3           .9         -.1        5.1
    Dec.        0         .4         .9       -.3          1.2         -.1        1.9
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ 
from those previously reported because data for August 2002 have been revised to 
reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -2-
                                     
     Among finished goods, the index for finished goods other than foods
and energy declined 0.3 percent in December, the same as in November.  The
decline in December largely reflected falling prices for passenger cars and
light trucks.  When prices for passenger cars and light trucks are excluded
the index for finished goods other than foods and energy edged down 0.1
percent.  On the other hand, prices for finished energy goods increased 0.9
percent, following a 1.8-percent decrease in November.  Finished consumer
food prices rose 0.4 percent in December, compared with a 0.3-percent gain
a month earlier.

     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods decreased 0.4 percent to 139.1 (1982=100).  From December 2001 to
December 2002, finished goods prices increased 1.2 percent, after declining
1.6 percent during 2001.  Prices for finished energy goods turned up 11.9
percent in 2002, following a 17.1-percent drop in the previous calendar
year.  Conversely, for the 12 months ended in December 2002, the index for
finished goods other than foods and energy decreased 0.4 percent, after
posting a 0.9-percent gain in 2001.  Prices for finished consumer foods
fell 0.6 percent in 2002, following a 1.8-percent increase a year earlier.
At the earlier stages of processing, the intermediate goods index advanced
3.2 percent from December 2001 to December 2002, after registering a 4.0-
percent decline during 2001.  Prices received by producers of crude
materials for further processing jumped 26.1 percent in 2002, following a
32.5-percent drop in the prior calendar year.  (See summary below.)

Summary of December-to-December and 3-month seasonally adjusted annual rates for
selected stages of process
 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
|                               |     Percentage     |                                          |
|                               |      change 12     |   Seasonally adjusted annual rate for    |
|                               |    months ended    |            3 months ended in:            |
|           Grouping            |     in December    |                                          |
|                               |--------------------|------------------------------------------|
|                               |      |      |      |          |        |           |          |
|                               | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |   March  |  June  | September | December |
|                               |      |      |      |   2002   |  2002  |    2002   |   2002   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 Finished goods                    3.6   -1.6    1.2      4.4      -1.7      -0.3         2.6
   Finished consumer foods         1.7    1.8    -.6      9.1     -11.4      -4.5         5.6
   Finished energy goods          16.6  -17.1   11.9     22.3         0      11.4        13.5
   Finished goods less foods  
   and energy                      1.3     .9    -.4      -.5        .8      -1.3         -.5
      Finished consumer goods,      
      excluding foods and energy   1.4    1.5    -.1     -1.0       2.0      -1.3         -.3          
      Capital equipment            1.2      0    -.9      -.3       -.6      -1.7         -.9
                                                                    
 Intermediate materials, supplies,      
 and components                    4.1   -4.0    3.2      1.9       2.9       4.8         2.2
   Intermediate foods and feeds    3.6     .3    4.5       .7      -1.7      12.9         5.9
   Intermediate energy goods      19.0  -16.9   11.4      7.7       9.8      12.8         8.9
   Intermediate materials less    
   foods and energy                1.6   -1.6    1.6       .9       1.8       3.0          .3    
      Materials for nondurable          
      manufacturing                4.1   -5.5    4.3       .3       7.5      10.0         -.3
      Materials for durable    
      manufacturing                 .2   -4.0    3.2      3.3       3.9       3.6         1.9         
      Materials and components           
      for construction              .1      0     .8      1.6       1.9       2.4        -2.6
                                                                    
 Crude materials for further   
 processing                       35.5  -32.5   26.1     38.5       5.1      14.9        50.6     
   Foodstuffs and feedstuffs       7.4   -7.6    4.4     22.6     -25.9      25.7         3.6
   Crude energy materials         85.6  -52.9   66.1     87.8      40.1       9.3       165.1
   Crude nonfood materials      
   less energy                    -5.5   -9.9   12.4      8.5      32.7       4.4         6.2 
NOTE: Late reports and corrections by respondents may cause some indexes to change 4 months 
after original publication.  In addition, seasonally adjusted indexes may be revised for 5 
years due to the recalculation of seasonal factors each January.
     
                                    -3-

Finished goods
     
     The index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy fell
0.3 percent in both December and November.  In December, price declines for
passenger cars, light motor trucks, floor coverings, men's and boys'
apparel, and cigarettes prevailed over rising prices for sporting and
athletic goods, book publishing, sanitary papers and health products,
alcoholic beverages, and footwear.  During the 2002 calendar year, prices
for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy edged down 0.1
percent, following a 1.5-percent hike in 2001.
     
     Capital equipment prices fell 0.4 percent in December, following a 0.2-
percent decrease in the previous month.  Subsequent to a 0.3-percent gain
in November, the index for light motor trucks declined 1.6 percent.  Prices
for heavy motor trucks, civilian aircraft, and construction machinery and
equipment rose more slowly in December than they did in November.
Commercial furniture prices turned down, after rising in the prior month.
On the other hand, the rate of decline for passenger car prices slowed from
3.6 percent in November to 2.0 percent in December.  The index for metal
cutting machine tools also fell less in December than it did a month
earlier.  Prices for transformers and power regulators turned up, after
declining in November.  The index for industrial material handling
equipment rose more in December than it did in the preceding month.  For
the 12 months ended December 2002, capital equipment prices decreased 0.9
percent, after showing no change during the previous calendar year.

Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for 
intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted
 __________________________________________________________________________________
|      |                                     |                                     |
|      |       Intermediate goods            |       Crude goods                   |
|      |                                     |                                     |
|      |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      |       |        |         |Change in |       |         |         | Change  |
|      |       |        |         | interme- |       |         |         |in crude |
|      |       |        |         |  diate   |       |         |         | goods   |
|      |       |        |         |goods from|       |         |         | from 12 |
|      |       |        | Except  |12 months |       |         | Except  | months  |
|      |       |        |foods and|   ago    |       | Energy  |foods and|  ago    |
|Month | Foods | Energy | energy  | (unadj.) | Foods | (unadj.)| energy  |(unadj.) |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 2001                                                           
   Dec.   -1.1    -2.9     -0.2       -4.0      -2.3    -15.0      -0.5     -32.5
                                                                           
 2002                                                                      
   Jan.    -.2    -1.3      -.1       -4.7       4.3      7.8         0     -40.0
   Feb.    -.1    -1.2        0       -4.6       1.8     -7.1       1.5     -30.6
   Mar.     .4     4.5       .3       -3.5       -.9     16.9        .5     -21.6
   Apr.    -.7     4.3       .2       -2.7      -6.3     19.4       2.1     -18.6
   May     -.9    -1.9       .1       -3.2         0       .9       2.3     -16.3
   June    1.2       0       .1       -2.8       -.9     -9.7       2.8     -12.4
   July    1.4      .1       .3       -1.5       2.0       .3       2.0      -6.2
   Aug.   r .7    r .7     r .2     r -1.0     r 1.9    r 3.2     r -.4    r -3.8
   Sept.  r .9   r 2.2     r .2        -.5     r 1.9   r -1.2     r -.4        .8
   Oct.    -.2     4.1       .1        1.6       -.1      8.9        .9      14.3
   Nov.     .5    -1.5       .1        2.5       -.1     13.1        .4      14.7
   Dec.    1.1     -.4      -.1        3.2       1.1      3.6        .2      26.1
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may 
differ from those previously reported because data for August 2002 have been 
revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -4-
     
     Prices for finished energy goods increased 0.9 percent in December,
after decreasing 1.8 percent in November.  The gasoline index rose 1.6
percent, following a 9.0-percent decline in the preceding month.  Prices
for home heating oil, liquefied petroleum gas, and diesel fuel also turned
up, after falling in November.  The index for residential electric power
rose more in December than it did in the prior month.  By contrast,
residential natural gas prices decreased 0.4 percent, following a 3.1-
percent advance in November.
     
     The index for finished consumer foods increased at about the same rate
in December as in the prior month -- 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent,
respectively.  Rising prices for beef and veal, dairy products, processed
young chickens, confectionery end products, and processed turkeys
outweighed price declines for fresh fruits and melons, finfish and
shellfish, fresh and dry vegetables, and eggs for fresh use.
     
Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components inched down 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month.  An
increase in the December intermediate foods and feeds index partly offset
declining prices for materials for nondurable manufacturing, intermediate
energy goods, and materials for durable manufacturing.  December prices for
materials and components for construction remained unchanged.  The index
for intermediate goods other than foods and energy edged down 0.1 percent
in December, after rising at a similar rate in the prior month.  (See table
B.)

     The index for materials for nondurable manufacturing declined 1.3
percent in December, following a 0.5-percent rise in the previous month.
The index for basic organic chemicals decreased 2.3 percent, after
advancing 1.6 percent in November.  The indexes for plastic resins and
materials, paper, synthetic rubber, and gray fabrics also turned down in
December.  Finished fabric prices remained unchanged in December, after
increasing in November.  On the other hand, prices for alkalies and
chlorine advanced 2.3 percent in December, after moving down 1.7 percent in
the preceding month.  The index for inedible fats and oils increased at a
faster rate in December than it did a month earlier.  The December
phosphate index fell at a slower pace than in November.  During 2002,
prices for materials for nondurable manufacturing rose 4.3 percent, after
declining 5.5 percent in 2001.

     The index for intermediate energy goods decreased 0.4 percent, after
registering a 1.5-percent decline in November.  The indexes for residual
fuel, industrial natural gas, and kerosene posted decreases in December,
while prices for diesel fuel, gasoline, and commercial electric power
increased.  From December 2001 to December 2002, the intermediate energy
goods index advanced 11.4 percent, following a 16.9-percent drop in 2001.

     The index for materials for durable manufacturing fell 0.1 percent in
December, after registering a 0.6-percent rise in the prior month.  The
index for hot rolled steel sheet and strip decreased 0.6 percent, following
a 2.7-percent gain in November.  Prices for primary aluminum (except
extrusion billet) and for copper cathode and refined copper moved up at
slower rate in December than in November.  Hot rolled steel bars, plates,
and structural shape prices fell at a faster pace in December than they did
a month earlier.  By contrast, the index for flat glass rose 0.8 percent in
December, after declining 0.5 percent in November.  Cement, cold finished
steel bars, and hardwood lumber prices turned up in December.  Durable
manufacturing material prices increased 3.2 percent in 2002, following a
4.0-percent decline in the previous year.

                                    -5-
                                     
     Subsequent to a 0.5-percent gain in November, the index for
intermediate foods and feeds rose 1.1 percent.  The index for beef and veal
advanced 5.7 percent in December, following a 2.0-percent increase in
November.  Prices for prepared animal feeds posted no change in December,
after declining in the preceding month.  The indexes for natural,
processed, and imitation cheese and for confectionery materials turned up
in December.  Partially offsetting the intermediate foods and feeds
acceleration, pork prices fell 0.7 percent in December, following a 4.1-
percent gain a month earlier.  The fluid milk products index also turned
down in December.  The indexes for crude vegetable oils and for mayonnaise,
salad dressings, and sandwich spreads rose at a slower rate than they did
in November.   Prices for intermediate foods and feeds increased 4.5
percent during 2002, after posting a 0.3-percent rise in 2001.

     The index for materials and components for construction remained
unchanged in December, after posting a 0.4-percent drop in the preceding
month.  The index for plastic construction products rose 0.1 percent,
following a 3.8-percent decrease in November.  Prices for fabricated
structural metal products and for plumbing fixtures and brass fittings also
turned up in December.  Millwork prices registered no change in December,
after falling in the prior month.  By contrast, the index for softwood
lumber declined 0.8 percent, following a 0.1-percent gain in the previous
month.  Prices for nonferrous wire and cable, fabricated ferrous wire
products, and steel wire also turned down in December.  For the 12 months
ended December 2002, the index for materials and components for
construction rose 0.8 percent, after posting no change in the prior year.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
advanced 1.9 percent in December, following a 5.1-percent increase in the
previous month.  Prices for crude energy materials and basic industrial
materials also rose at a slower pace than they did in November.  By
contrast, the crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs index turned up in December,
after falling in the prior month.  (See table B.)

     Prices for crude energy materials rose 3.6 percent in December,
compared with a 13.1-percent increase a month earlier.  The natural gas
index moved up 3.3 percent, after jumping 37.9 percent in November.  Coal
prices declined 1.6 percent, following a 0.6-percent gain in the previous
month.  On the other hand, the index for crude petroleum advanced 6.6
percent in December, after dropping 13.5 percent in the prior month.
Prices for crude energy materials increased 66.1 percent during 2002,
following a 52.9-percent decline in 2001.

     The crude nonfood materials less energy index rose 0.2 percent in
December, after posting a 0.4-percent gain in the previous month.  Raw
cotton price increases slowed from 13.1 percent in November to 5.3 percent
in December.  Prices for leaf tobacco and copper base scrap also increased
at a slower rate than they did a month earlier.  The indexes for aluminum
base scrap and pulpwood turned down, after moving up in November.  The
indexes for wastepaper and softwood logs, bolts, and timber fell more in
December than they did in November.  Partially offsetting the deceleration
in prices for basic industrial materials, the nonferrous metal ores index
turned up 1.9 percent in December, following a 0.4-percent decline in the
previous month.  Prices for iron and steel scrap and for hides and skins
fell at a slower pace than they did in November.  The index for
construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone rose more in December than it
did in the prior month.  Prices for crude nonfood materials less energy
advanced 12.4 percent during calendar year 2002, compared with a 9.9-
percent decrease in 2001.

                                    -6-
                                     
     Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs turned up 1.1 percent in
December, after inching down 0.1 percent in the prior month.  The index for
slaughter broilers and fryers advanced 7.7 percent, following a 0.7-percent
gain in November.  Prices for corn, wheat, and fresh fruits and melons fell
less than they did in the previous month.  The fluid milk index turned up,
after moving down in November.  By contrast, slaughter cattle prices moved
up 3.4 percent in December, following a 4.3-percent gain a month earlier.
The indexes for soybeans and fresh vegetables other than potatoes turned
down, after rising in November.  The index for crude foodstuffs and
feedstuffs advanced 4.4 percent in 2002, compared with a 7.6-percent
decline in the prior calendar year.

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and services industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining
Industries rose 2.9 percent in December, following a 9.3-percent advance in
November.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.)  The
slower rate of increase in mining sector prices can be traced to the index
for the natural gas liquids and natural gas residue industry, which moved
up 9.7 percent in December after surging 42.7 percent in November.  Prices
received by the crude petroleum and natural gas industry also rose at a
slower rate in December than they did a month earlier.  The industry
indexes for oil and gas well drilling, bituminous coal underground mining,
and bituminous coal surface mining fell at a quicker pace in December,
compared with the preceding month.  Prices received by the industry for oil
and gas well exploration services turned down in December.  Conversely, the
industry index for crushed and broken limestone advanced 1.0 percent,
following a 0.2-percent decline in November.  Prices received by the gold
ores industry increased more than they did in the previous month.  In
December, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining
Industries was 115.6 (December 1984=100).  From December 2001 to December
2002, prices received by the mining sector rose 49.0 percent, after
decreasing 47.0 percent in 2001.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Manufacturing Industries fell 0.4 percent in December, following a 0.7-
percent decline in November.  Prices received by the petroleum refining and
related products industry group decreased 4.4 percent, after an 8.9-percent
drop in the prior month.  The index for the food and kindred products
industry group advanced more in December than it did in November.  Prices
received by the industry groups for sporting and athletic goods, lumber and
wood products (except furniture), and for stone, clay, glass, and concrete
products increased in December, following November decreases.  On the other
hand, the industry group index for chemicals and allied products declined
0.6 percent in December, compared with a 0.7-percent gain a month earlier.
Prices received by the paper and allied products industry group also turned
down in December.  The industry group indexes for transportation equipment
and for electrical and electronic machinery and equipment fell more than
they did in the previous month.  In December, the Producer Price Index for
the Net Output of Total Manufacturing Industries was 134.1 (December
1984=100).  From December 2001 to December 2002, prices received by the
manufacturing sector rose 1.9 percent, after moving down 2.0 percent in
2001.

Services.  Among service industries in December, prices received by the
industries for operators and lessors of nonresidential buildings; telephone
communications (except radiotelephone); radio broadcasting; engineering
design, analysis, and consulting services; and for hotels and motels
decreased in December.  By contrast, the industry indexes for passenger car
rental, local trucking without storage, cable and other pay television
services, help supply services, and legal services increased in December.

                                   *****
            Producer Price Index data for January 2003 will be
        released on Thursday, February 20, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

                                    -7-

  Recalculated Seasonal Adjustment Factors and Relative Importances to be
                      Available on February 18, 2003

     Each year with the release of PPI data for January, seasonal
adjustment factors are recalculated to reflect price movements from the
just-completed calendar year.  This routine annual calculation may result
in revisions to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years.  The
following information will be available on February 18, 2003 (2 workdays
prior to the release of PPI data for January 2003 on February 20):

    Seasonal factors for commodity indexes for the year 2003,

    Recalculated seasonal factors for the last 5 years (1998-2002) for the
    commodity indexes,

    Recalculated seasonal factors for the last 5 years (1998-2002) for the
    stage-of-processing indexes.

     In addition to recalculated seasonal factors, December 2002 relative
importances will also be available on February 18, 2003.
     
	To obtain any of this information, visit the PPI website at
http://www.bls.gov/ppi/ or call the Division of Industrial Prices and Price
Indexes, Section of Index Analysis and Public Information at (202) 691-
7705.

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|                       |Dec. 2002 from:|                          
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |        
                                                 |          |Aug.   |Nov.   |Dec.   |  Dec. | Nov.  |Sept.to|Oct.  to |Nov.  to
                                                 |   2001 1/|2002 2/|2002 2/|2002 2/|  2001 | 2002  |  Oct. |   Nov.  |  Dec.  
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   138.8   139.6   139.1     1.2   -0.4      1.1     -0.4     0     
  Finished consumer goods........................|   72.948   139.6   140.3   139.8     2.0    -.4      1.4      -.4      .1   
    Finished consumer foods......................|   20.964   139.3   139.2   139.6     -.6     .3       .7       .3      .4   
      Crude......................................|    1.560   125.4   122.7   112.4   -14.1   -8.4      3.8      -.7    -9.8   
      Processed..................................|   19.404   140.4   140.6   141.9      .5     .9       .6       .4     1.1   
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.984   139.3   140.3   139.6     3.1    -.5      1.6      -.8     0     
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.355   141.5   141.8   141.3     5.3    -.4      1.9      -.7      .3   
      Durable goods..............................|   16.628   131.0   133.5   132.1    -1.8   -1.0       .8      -.7     -.8   
  Capital equipment..............................|   27.052   138.2   139.3   138.6     -.9    -.5       .4      -.2     -.4   
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.924   139.6   140.0   139.8     -.4    -.1       .1       .1     -.1   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   19.128   137.5   139.0   138.1    -1.1    -.6       .4      -.4     -.5   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   128.4   129.8   129.4     3.2    -.3       .7      -.1     -.1   
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   47.040   126.5   127.8   127.3     2.1    -.4       .2       .4     -.3   
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    2.902   123.1   125.3   127.2     4.0    1.5       .6      1.0     1.6   
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   14.124   130.3   133.3   131.5     4.3   -1.4       .8       .5    -1.3   
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|    9.152   125.3   126.4   126.3     3.2    -.1      0         .6     -.1   
    Components for manufacturing.................|   20.862   125.9   126.1   126.0     -.2    -.1      -.1       .2     0     
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.085   152.1   151.1   151.1      .8    0        -.3      -.4     0     
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   15.060    97.6   101.1   100.4    12.1    -.7      3.9     -1.4      .4   
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    6.106    99.0   104.2   103.3     9.7    -.9      2.2       .9     -.5   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.954    96.8    99.2    98.6    13.6    -.6      5.1     -2.9     1.0   
  Containers.....................................|    3.421   151.5   153.8   153.4      .7    -.3       .5       .2     -.3   
  Supplies.......................................|   21.395   139.3   139.7   139.7     1.1    0        0         .1     0     
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    4.721   144.8   145.1   145.1      .3    0         .1      0       -.1   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   16.674   136.7   137.1   137.1     1.3    0        0        0       0     
      Feeds......................................|    1.082   102.2   100.5   100.5     5.5    0       -2.2     -1.1     0     
      Other supplies.............................|   15.593   141.1   141.7   141.6     1.0    -.1       .1       .1     -.1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   108.7   117.1   119.4    26.1    2.0      3.4      5.1     1.9   
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   46.173    99.7    99.4   100.4     4.4    1.0      -.1      -.1     1.1   
  Nonfood materials..............................|   53.827   112.1   127.3   130.6    44.6    2.6      6.0      8.7     2.5   
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   32.578   105.8   102.0   104.8    25.7    2.7      1.2     -5.2     2.5   
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   31.534    97.0    93.4    96.1    26.6    2.9      1.2     -5.3     2.7   
      Construction...............................|    1.044   182.2   181.6   180.8      .9    -.4       .5      -.5     -.7   
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   21.249   111.1   157.1   160.9    73.8    2.4     14.2     30.0     2.4   
      Manufacturing industries...................|    1.958   107.6   150.0   153.4    69.7    2.3     13.6     28.6     2.3   
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   19.291   113.4   160.6   164.5    74.3    2.4     14.4     30.1     2.4   
                                                 |                                                                             
               Special groupings                 |                                                                             
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 79.036   138.4   139.5   138.7     1.7    -.6      1.2      -.6     -.1   
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 96.017   129.0   130.5   130.0     3.1    -.4       .8      -.1     -.2   
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  3.983   116.8   117.7   119.1     4.5    1.2      -.2       .5     1.1   
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 51.690   113.2   128.8   132.2    45.9    2.6      6.2      8.7     2.6   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.774    91.3    91.1    90.4    11.9    -.8      4.2     -1.8      .9   
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.226   146.5   147.5   147.1     -.5    -.3       .5      -.1     -.2   
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 59.174   150.0   151.0   150.7     -.3    -.2       .6      -.1     -.1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 65.262   149.3   150.8   150.1     -.4    -.5       .5      -.3     -.3   
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.210   156.8   158.6   157.8     -.1    -.5       .6      -.3     -.3   
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.581   177.9   178.8   178.8     1.2    0         .4       .1     0     
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 15.182    97.0   101.0    99.5    11.4   -1.5      4.1     -1.5     -.4   
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 84.818   135.0   135.7   135.6     1.6    -.1       .1       .1     -.1   
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 80.835   136.2   136.9   136.7     1.6    -.1       .1       .1     -.1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 32.341   101.2   123.2   127.6    66.1    3.6      8.9     13.1     3.6   
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 67.659   110.0   109.5   110.4     7.0     .8       .3      0        .8   
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.486   140.3   139.1   139.7    12.4     .4       .9       .4      .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 August 2002 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 |                                                       |                       |Dec. 2002 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |Aug.   |Nov.   |Dec.   | Dec.  | Nov.  |Sept.to|Oct. to|Nov. to  
           |                                                       |2002 1/|2002 1/|2002 1/| 2001  | 2002  |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Dec.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 138.8   139.6   139.1     1.2   -0.4      1.1    -0.4     0     
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 139.6   140.3   139.8     2.0    -.4      1.4     -.4      .1   
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 139.3   139.2   139.6     -.6     .3       .7      .3      .4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  92.1    82.5    75.5   -35.4   -8.5      3.9   -12.0    -8.5   
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 127.0   119.7   113.7    -5.6   -5.0      4.3     -.2    -5.0   
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  86.4   103.4    97.1    22.6   -6.1     -8.8    22.6    -5.8   
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 189.6   190.9   191.6     1.8     .4       .3      .2      .4   
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................|  76.9    83.0    85.4     1.7    2.9       .8    -3.0     2.9   
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 121.4   121.5   121.5     -.6    0        0       0       0     
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal 2/....................................| 111.5   111.5   117.8     4.1    5.7     -2.6     2.0     5.7   
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 108.8   104.1   105.8    -7.5    1.6     11.5     4.1     -.7   
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 108.4   105.0   105.8    -8.3     .8     -1.2      .4     3.0   
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................|  96.0    93.3    92.9   -11.9    -.4     -3.7    -4.5     4.0   
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 189.1   200.3   181.1     2.1   -9.6      7.4    -2.3    -9.7   
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 134.3   134.3   135.3    -2.9     .7      2.3     0       2.8   
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 132.5   133.0   133.2     1.0     .2      -.5      .5      .2   
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 176.7   174.7   177.4     2.2    1.5       .1      .1     1.5   
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 151.1   152.3   152.2     2.4    -.1      -.5     1.5      .3   
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 121.6   121.4   120.7    -1.0    -.6      -.3      .3     -.6   
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 143.4   153.0   155.2    16.1    1.4      1.0     3.4     1.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 139.3   140.3   139.6     3.1    -.5      1.6     -.8     0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 146.7   148.1   148.3     1.1     .1      1.3     -.7      .1   
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 122.3   121.8   121.8    -1.1    0         .7     0       0     
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel 2/..........................| 128.4   129.5   129.1    -1.5    -.3       .8     -.2     -.3   
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 119.4   119.9   119.9     2.7    0         .9     0       0     
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.3   121.9   121.9     -.8    0        -.1     -.1     0     
04-3       |   Footwear 2/.........................................| 145.9   146.2   146.5      .4     .2       .2     0        .2   
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 119.3   112.9   112.7    -1.5    -.2      -.3      .1      .6   
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 130.4   140.4   142.5     9.0    1.5      3.0     3.1     -.4   
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  88.1    88.0    82.1    38.7   -6.7     17.9    -9.0     1.6   
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  75.4    80.9    82.3    43.1    1.7      4.9   -11.1     4.7   
06-38      |   Pharmaceutical preparations (June 2001=100) 2/......| 102.9   104.4   104.4     4.1    0        1.0      .3     0     
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 130.1   130.9   130.8     -.2    -.1      -.5      .2     -.1   
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 139.6   139.6   139.6     1.1    0        0        .2     0     
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  95.3    95.3    95.3      .7    0        0       0       0     
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 149.7   150.6   150.9      .3     .2      -.3     1.2      .2   
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 226.0   226.0   226.0     1.3    0        0       0       0     
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 211.5   212.7   212.7     4.7    0        -.3      .3     0     
09-33      |   Book publishing.....................................| 236.6   237.8   238.3     3.2     .2      -.6     -.3      .7   
12-1       |   Household furniture.................................| 157.3   157.8   157.7     1.3    -.1       .3     0       -.1   
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 130.9   132.4   129.5      .5   -2.2      -.2      .8    -2.2   
12-4       |   Household appliances ...............................| 104.5   103.7   103.6    -1.5    -.1      -.1     -.4     -.1   
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  69.1    68.6    68.4    -2.1    -.3      -.4     0       -.3   
12-62      |   Household glassware.................................| 169.8   169.8   169.9     0       .1       .3     -.2      .1   
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 145.0   145.2   145.2     1.4    0        -.1     0       0     
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 134.0   133.9   133.2     -.1    -.5      -.2      .1     -.5   
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 125.3   129.8   126.4    -4.7   -2.6      2.2    -3.6    -2.0   
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles 2/.............| 124.9   124.6   124.6      .5    0        0       0       0     
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 125.1   121.1   124.9    -1.0    3.1      -.2    -3.1     3.1   
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 466.8   467.6   467.5     2.7    0        0        .1     0     
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 167.0   166.8   166.5      .5    -.2      -.5      .1     -.2   
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 129.9   130.3   130.2      .6    -.1       .1      .2     -.1   
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 144.4   144.5   144.4      .3    -.1       .1     0       -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.2   139.3   138.6     -.9    -.5       .4     -.2     -.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 158.6   158.1   158.1      .4    0         .1      .1     0     
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 151.4   151.7   151.8     2.0     .1      0        .3      .1   
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 153.6   150.8   150.5    -2.1    -.2      -.1    -2.0     -.2   
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 167.3   167.3   167.3     1.0    0        -.1     0       0     
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 140.6   140.5   140.5     -.5    0        -.2     0       0     
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 161.4   161.7   161.9     1.5     .1       .2     -.1      .2   
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 137.0   137.0   137.5      .2     .4      -.1      .1      .4   
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............|  40.9    39.2    38.4   -20.5   -2.0     -1.7    -2.0    -2.0   
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 156.7   157.1   157.0    -1.7    -.1       .3     -.1     -.1   
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 169.5   169.7   169.7     1.3    0         .4      .1      .1   
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 144.1   144.1   144.3     1.1     .1       .2     0        .1   
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 131.4   131.0   132.2    -1.0     .9      -.1     -.7      .9   
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 107.1   106.5   106.0    -2.8    -.5      -.1     -.5     -.5   
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 101.0   100.7   100.8      .1     .1      -.4     -.2      .1   
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 135.8   136.0   136.0      .5    0        -.4      .2      .2   
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 152.0   152.1   154.4     3.3    1.5      0       0       1.5   
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.2   112.6   112.6     -.6    0         .2      .3     0     
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 161.1   161.2   160.8      .2    -.2       .2      .3     -.2   
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 143.7   153.2   149.4    -4.3   -2.5      1.9      .3    -1.6   
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 152.8   156.0   156.5     5.2     .3      0       1.5      .3   
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 138.8   138.0   138.3      .3     .2       .1     0        .2   
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 171.7   173.8   174.0     2.1     .1       .5      .2      .1   
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 151.4   151.5   151.3      .6    -.1      0        .1     -.1   
14-4       |   Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 135.0   134.7   134.7      .1    0        -.4      .4     0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 128.4   129.8   129.4     3.2    -.3       .7     -.1     -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 116.8   117.7   119.1     4.5    1.2      -.2      .5     1.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 118.3   123.2   120.7     8.3   -2.0     -1.3    -2.5    -2.0   
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 117.9   119.4   120.6     6.6    1.0       .2      .3     1.0   
02-54      |   Confectionery materials 2/..........................| 117.8   122.6   124.6    13.8    1.6       .9    -2.0     1.6   
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................|  97.2   110.3   114.1    54.6    3.4      -.5    12.7     3.4   
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 109.1   107.4   107.4     3.9    0       -1.8    -1.0     0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 129.0   130.5   130.0     3.1    -.4       .8     -.1     -.2   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 106.4   106.8   106.3     -.4    -.5       .4      .4     -.5   
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 102.6   102.5   102.6     0       .1      0        .1      .1   
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 112.6   112.6   111.9     -.6    -.6       .2      .2     -.6   
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 120.5   121.6   121.0     -.3    -.5       .5      .6     0     
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 132.7   133.6   132.6     -.4    -.7      -.4     -.3     -.7   
04-2       |   Leather 2/..........................................| 208.9   209.8   208.4     7.2    -.7      -.2     2.2     -.7   
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 107.1   121.4   129.9    90.2    7.0      1.1    -2.2     7.0   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
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 |                                                       |                       |Dec. 2002 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |Aug.   |Nov.   |Dec.   | Dec.  | Nov.  |Sept.to|Oct. to|Nov. to  
           |                                                       |2002 1/|2002 1/|2002 1/| 2001  | 2002  |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Dec.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |                                                                 
           |   -Continued..........................................|                                                                 
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 143.8   134.8   134.7    -1.9   -0.1      0.6     1.4     0.4   
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 145.0   140.1   139.6     2.0    -.4      -.9     2.4      .2   
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 129.4   145.4   148.3     9.1    2.0      3.8      .2      .1   
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 128.6   151.1   153.1    11.6    1.3      2.7     2.4     -.3   
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  93.3   125.5   128.4    23.3    2.3      8.0    -4.1     0     
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  72.5    81.2    78.9    39.2   -2.8      6.4    -9.4     1.1   
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  80.4    86.0    86.9    54.6    1.0     14.2   -14.7     9.8   
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  76.4    94.0    73.6    16.8  -21.7      8.7     1.6   -21.7   
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 129.7   134.8   132.4    10.8   -1.8      1.5     1.4    -1.8   
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 167.0   167.8   167.5     1.6    -.2      -.5     -.1     -.2   
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 172.6   172.6   172.7    16.9     .1       .1      .6      .1   
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 132.4   133.0   132.4    -5.5    -.5       .5     0       -.5   
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible.............................|  94.1   103.2   117.4    40.1   13.8     -6.9     6.9    13.0   
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 113.6   114.0   113.8     -.9    -.2       .6      .3     -.1   
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 106.1   110.9   113.9     7.7    2.7      1.4     2.8     1.7   
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................|  99.9   101.3   101.2    11.9    -.1      1.1     -.5     -.1   
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 148.7   147.3   150.3     1.0    2.0      -.9     0       2.0   
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 136.4   137.0   135.7     9.5    -.9      -.4      .7     -.9   
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 119.2   123.4   121.4     1.4   -1.6       .7      .7    -1.6   
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 140.5   134.1   133.4     2.3    -.5     -3.5    -3.8      .1   
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 136.4   137.0   136.8     1.3    -.1      1.1     -.9     -.1   
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 116.1   116.6   116.6     -.3    0        -.1      .1     0     
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 172.0   167.0   165.6     2.9    -.8       .2      .1     -.8   
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 178.5   179.8   180.8     2.0     .6       .5     -.3      .6   
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 180.4   179.5   179.5      .1    0        -.1     -.3     0     
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 152.4   147.1   146.3    -1.1    -.5      -.1    -1.6     -.5   
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 118.4   120.0   118.3     4.0   -1.4      0        .5    -1.4   
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 144.2   146.3   146.2     -.3    -.1       .8      .3     -.1   
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 165.8   167.5   166.8     -.1    -.4      -.2     -.1     -.4   
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 171.8   174.7   174.4      .2    -.2       .6      .2     -.2   
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 132.2   129.5   128.6     2.6    -.7      -.1    -1.4     -.7   
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 157.2   157.4   157.6      .4     .1       .3     -.1      .1   
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 136.8   137.0   137.0      .1    0        0       0       0     
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 107.3   110.0   109.5    10.5    -.5       .3      .5     -.5   
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................|  97.8   101.8   102.8     4.0    1.0      -.7     4.7     1.0   
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 142.7   143.3   143.5    -1.1     .1       .5      .1      .1   
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 146.3   146.7   147.1    -1.5     .3     -3.5     -.1      .3   
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 133.1   133.5   133.1    -3.8    -.3       .1      .5     -.3   
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 107.6   108.5   108.4     2.0    -.1       .5      .3     -.1   
10-4       |   Hardware 2/.........................................| 155.8   155.5   155.7     -.1     .1      -.4     -.1      .1   
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 182.6   181.3   182.0      .6     .4       .1     -.6      .7   
10-6       |   Heating equipment 2/................................| 158.2   157.9   158.2      .4     .2      0       0        .2   
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 145.8   145.4   145.4      .8    0        -.1     -.2      .1   
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.1   130.2   129.6     0      -.5      -.5      .3     -.5   
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 126.7   127.8   127.7      .6    -.1      -.1      .7     -.1   
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 169.5   169.9   169.9     1.2    0         .5     -.1     -.1   
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment 2/.....| 137.4   137.1   137.1      .7    0        -.4     0       0     
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 167.4   168.1   168.1     1.7    0         .3     -.1     0     
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 170.3   170.4   170.6      .6     .1       .4      .1     0     
11-71      |   Wiring devices 2/...................................| 155.2   153.4   152.6      .5    -.5     -1.1     -.3     -.5   
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 146.9   147.8   147.6      .8    -.1      0       1.0     -.1   
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 157.3   158.7   158.9      .8     .1       .4     -.1      .2   
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  92.3    92.4    92.1     -.6    -.3      -.2      .1     -.3   
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 144.0   145.3   145.8     1.3     .3      0        .1      .5   
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 139.9   140.2   140.2      .4    0         .1      .1     0     
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 111.7   110.9   111.8      .3     .8      -.1     -.5      .8   
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 154.2   152.3   153.1     1.7     .5       .2     -.3      .9   
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 152.5   152.2   152.6     -.3     .3       .1     -.3      .5   
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings..........................| 113.2   110.9   110.3      .1    -.5       .7     -.7     -.2   
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 170.1   170.8   170.4     2.5    -.2      1.6    -1.0     -.2   
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 136.0   136.9   136.9     2.8    0         .9     -.1     0     
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 112.5   112.4   112.3     -.8    -.1      0        .5     -.1   
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 145.3   145.6   145.6     -.4    0        -.3     -.1      .2   
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100).....| 151.1   149.7   149.9    -1.0     .1      -.1     0        .3   
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 119.1   119.1   119.1    -7.9    0        0       0       0     
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices 2/............| 150.9   151.4   151.7     1.5     .2      -.1     0        .2   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 108.7   117.1   119.4    26.1    2.0      3.4     5.1     1.9   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................|  99.7    99.4   100.4     4.4    1.0      -.1     -.1     1.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................| 106.1   111.1   106.3    24.0   -4.3     -1.3   -10.8    -4.3   
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................| 105.7    93.9    91.8    13.2   -2.2    -10.7   -10.5    -4.8   
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................|  95.2   101.2   104.6    10.3    3.4       .5     4.3     3.4   
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  54.5    46.8    50.2    -4.6    7.3     24.4      .7      .2   
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 125.8   117.2   119.7    -5.1    2.1     -5.6      .7     7.7   
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 110.5   114.0   110.7     0     -2.9     -7.1     6.3     9.2   
01-6       |   Fluid milk 2/.......................................|  85.1    87.4    88.9   -11.4    1.7      2.7    -1.7     1.7   
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................| 100.4    95.9    95.4    29.6    -.5     -6.9     3.6     -.5   
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 110.3   118.8   117.4     4.2   -1.2       .5     2.4    -1.2   
                                                                                                                                     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 112.1   127.3   130.6    44.6    2.6      6.0     8.7     2.5   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton 2/.......................................|  66.0    73.6    77.5    42.7    5.3      2.2    13.1     5.3   
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 106.1   113.8   116.4     1.0    2.3      2.5     4.6     2.3   
04-19      |   Hides and skins (June 2001=100) 2/..................|  84.6    85.4    85.0    18.5    -.5      -.2    -2.3     -.5   
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  98.1    99.5    97.9      .9   -1.6       .9      .6    -1.6   
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................| 114.9   176.1   181.9   101.0    3.3     18.5    37.9     3.3   
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  72.8    67.0    71.4    57.3    6.6      1.7   -13.5     6.6   
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 179.9   181.9   180.6     1.1    -.7       .8      .4    -1.0   
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 204.5   190.1   188.7    35.7    -.7      -.4     -.1     -.7   
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  95.0    95.0    95.0    -1.3    0        0       0       0     
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap................................| 154.8   143.5   141.7    27.0   -1.3      2.4    -4.4    -3.0   
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  68.8    67.5    68.8    12.4    1.9     -2.7     -.4     1.9   
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 109.1   114.2   116.8    11.2    2.3      1.9     4.5     2.3   
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 156.4   158.5   159.8    10.4     .8      2.3     2.8     -.3   
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 173.5   173.3   174.2     2.7     .5       .2      .2      .7   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                                                     
1/  The indexes for August 2002 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                    | Aug. 2002 | Nov. 2002 | Dec. 2002 | 
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________| 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   389.4   |   391.7   |   390.3   | 
         | All commodities................................|   131.5   |   133.2   |   133.0   | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   124.0   |   124.1   |   124.9   | 
01       |   Farm products................................|    99.7   |    98.8   |    99.0   | 
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   136.0   |   136.6   |   137.6   | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   132.8   |   134.9   |   134.5   | 
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   119.8   |   120.1   |   119.7   | 
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   160.4   |   161.0   |   160.6   | 
05       |   Fuels and related products and power.........|    94.5   |    99.9   |    99.6   | 
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   153.6   |   156.2   |   155.3   | 
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   127.1   |   127.2   |   127.0   | 
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   173.8   |   172.0   |   171.8   | 
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   186.6   |   187.7   |   187.6   | 
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   126.6   |   127.2   |   127.2   | 
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   122.7   |   122.6   |   122.4   | 
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   133.7   |   133.8   |   133.2   | 
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   146.6   |   146.2   |   146.5   | 
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   142.5   |   145.3   |   143.9   | 
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   182.9   |   182.8   |   183.4   | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           | 
         |   products and power...........................|   143.0   |   143.9   |   143.5   | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           | 
         |                                                |           |           |           | 
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           | 
         |   and tree nuts................................|   112.1   |   104.8   |    98.8   | 
01-2     | Grains.........................................|   104.6   |    98.8   |    96.3   | 
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    84.9   |    87.2   |    90.6   | 
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   121.1   |   115.0   |   116.3   | 
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|    67.0   |    74.7   |    78.6   | 
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   100.8   |   120.5   |   112.7   | 
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   126.7   |   121.8   |   120.9   | 
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   112.1   |   106.7   |   106.0   | 
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   158.2   |   169.6   |   173.6   | 
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   164.6   |   166.5   |   167.1   | 
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   117.7   |   116.8   |   118.4   | 
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   109.9   |   108.8   |   109.0   | 
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   142.8   |   143.5   |   145.4   | 
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   147.8   |   149.0   |   148.8   | 
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   124.3   |   125.2   |   123.1   | 
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   123.1   |   137.3   |   146.0   | 
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.2   |   125.4   |   125.2   | 
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   147.9   |   148.1   |   148.0   | 
05-3     | Gas fuels......................................|   111.1   |   160.6   |   166.9   | 
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   142.1   |   134.7   |   134.5   | 
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    82.3   |    86.2   |    81.1   | 
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   265.9   |   268.7   |   268.8   | 
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   123.9   |   124.7   |   126.5   | 
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   139.7   |   140.2   |   140.1   | 
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   117.1   |   117.7   |   117.4   | 
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   118.6   |   122.7   |   120.8   | 
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   141.0   |   140.7   |   140.8   | 
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   135.1   |   134.9   |   134.7   | 
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   171.4   |   168.8   |   168.2   | 
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           | 
         |   paper and board..............................|   156.2   |   157.6   |   157.2   | 
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   163.3   |   165.6   |   165.2   | 
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   117.0   |   117.9   |   117.4   | 
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   119.3   |   120.1   |   120.8   | 
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   135.8   |   136.2   |   136.3   | 
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   150.5   |   150.1   |   150.1   | 
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   154.4   |   154.6   |   154.8   | 
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   165.1   |   165.4   |   165.6   | 
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   116.1   |   115.9   |   115.6   | 
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   136.3   |   136.8   |   137.1   | 
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   158.4   |   158.7   |   158.3   | 
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   163.5   |   162.6   |   163.5   | 
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   127.0   |   130.6   |   128.8   | 
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   133.1   |   130.4   |   133.0   | 
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   105.5   |   105.5   |   105.5   | 
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   139.1   |   140.1   |   140.8   | 
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________| 
                                                                                                
1/  Data for August 2002 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_Dec._2002_from:__                 
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |                            
                  |                                              |     |Aug.   |Nov.   |Dec.   |  Dec.  |  Nov.                      
                  |                                              |     |2002 2/|2002 2/|2002 2/|  2001  |  2002                      
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|___________                 
                  |                                              |     |                                                             
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  95.9   112.3   115.6     49.0      2.9                     
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  73.2    72.6    73.7      7.0      1.5                     
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  93.4    93.7    93.0       .5      -.7                     
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 106.0   131.7   136.8     74.7      3.9                     
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |                                                             
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 143.5   143.8   144.4      2.0       .4                     
                  |                                              |     |                                                             
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 133.7   134.7   134.1      1.9      -.4                     
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 131.3   131.7   132.8       .8       .8                     
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 408.5   409.2   409.0      2.7    0                         
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 115.5   116.0   115.4      -.6      -.5                     
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |                                                             
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 125.3   125.8   125.3    0          -.4                     
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 155.9   154.1   154.2       .5       .1                     
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 146.6   146.9   146.5       .7      -.3                     
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 143.5   145.3   145.0       .1      -.2                     
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 193.2   194.0   194.2      2.1       .1                     
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 158.6   160.6   159.6      3.4      -.6                     
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84| 103.2   107.1   102.4     34.9     -4.4                     
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 125.9   125.7   125.6       .3      -.1                     
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 142.0   142.3   142.4      1.5       .1                     
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 137.4   136.9   137.2       .4       .2                     
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 117.1   118.2   117.9      3.4      -.3                     
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |                                                             
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 132.0   132.3   132.3       .8    0                         
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 116.8   116.6   116.6     -1.0    0                         
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |                                                             
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 105.5   104.9   104.5     -2.0      -.4                     
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 135.0   138.3   136.8     -1.3     -1.1                     
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |                                                             
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |                                                             
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 128.4   128.8   128.9       .9       .1                     
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 133.4   132.7   133.7       .8       .8                     
                  |                                              |     |                                                             
                  |Services industries                           |     |                                                             
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 106.6   107.4   107.4      1.5    0                     
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 125.0   125.9   125.9      2.3    0                         
       43         | United States Postal Service................ |06/89| 155.0   155.0   155.0      6.6    0                         
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 135.3   141.0   142.3      9.7       .9                     
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 158.0   160.3   160.7      2.3       .2                     
       46         | Pipelines, except natural gas............... |12/86| 112.5   112.3   112.3       .3    0                         
       48         | Communications.............................. |06/01|  97.7    98.1    97.7      -.1      -.4                     
       54         | Food stores................................. |12/99| 113.1   116.9   113.9      3.2     -2.6                     
       55         | Automotive dealers and gasoline service      |     |                                                             
                  |  stations................................... |12/01|  93.3    92.3    85.6    -14.4     -7.3                     
       59         | Miscellaneous retail........................ |06/00| 103.1   104.8   104.1      5.2      -.7                     
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 119.8   120.6   120.5      2.5      -.1                     
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 122.5   122.2   122.9      3.4       .6                     
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________                 
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 August 2002 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                                |        |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |  July  |  Aug.  |  Sep.  |  Oct.  |  Nov.  |  Dec.
                                                       |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods...................................|  138.4    138.5    138.6    140.1    139.5    139.5
        Finished consumer goods........................|  138.9    139.1    139.1    141.0    140.4    140.5
          Finished consumer foods......................|  139.4    138.9    137.9    138.9    139.3    139.8
            Crude......................................|  127.5    127.4    117.9    122.4    121.5    109.6
            Processed..................................|  140.4    139.8    139.5    140.3    140.8    142.3
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  138.4    138.8    139.3    141.5    140.4    140.4
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  139.6    140.3    140.8    143.5    142.5    142.9
            Durable goods..............................|  132.2    132.0    132.4    133.4    132.4    131.4
        Capital equipment..............................|  138.7    138.6    138.7    139.2    138.9    138.4
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  139.8    139.7    139.6    139.8    139.9    139.8
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  138.2    138.1    138.3    138.9    138.4    137.7
                                                       |
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  127.8    128.2    128.9    129.8    129.7    129.6
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  126.2    126.5    127.0    127.3    127.8    127.4
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  122.3    122.5    123.4    124.2    125.5    127.5
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  129.6    130.4    131.8    132.9    133.5    131.7
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  125.3    125.3    125.8    125.8    126.5    126.4
          Components for manufacturing.................|  126.1    126.0    125.9    125.8    126.0    126.0
        Materials and components for construction......|  151.6    152.1    152.3    151.9    151.3    151.3
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   95.7     96.5     98.2    102.0    100.6    101.0
          Manufacturing industries ....................|   98.3     98.6    100.5    102.7    103.6    103.1
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   94.2     95.2     96.7    101.6     98.7     99.7
        Containers.....................................|  151.4    151.5    152.8    153.5    153.8    153.4
        Supplies.......................................|  139.1    139.3    139.6    139.6    139.7    139.7
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  144.7    144.7    145.0    145.1    145.1    145.0
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  136.5    136.8    137.1    137.1    137.1    137.1
            Feeds......................................|  100.2    102.2    103.9    101.6    100.5    100.5
            Other supplies.............................|  141.0    141.1    141.3    141.5    141.7    141.6
                                                       |
      Crude materials for further processing...........|  106.3    108.3    108.6    112.3    118.0    120.3
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   97.2     99.0    100.9    100.8    100.7    101.8
        Nonfood materials..............................|  110.0    112.0    111.0    117.7    127.9    131.1
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|  103.3    105.6    107.3    108.6    102.9    105.5
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   94.7     96.9     98.4     99.6     94.3     96.8
            Construction...............................|  182.9    182.9    182.9    183.9    182.9    181.7
          Crude fuel 3/................................|  109.8    111.1    105.8    120.8    157.1    160.9
            Manufacturing industries...................|  106.5    107.6    102.6    116.6    150.0    153.4
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|  112.1    113.4    107.9    123.4    160.6    164.5
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  138.0    138.2    138.5    140.2    139.4    139.2
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  128.5    128.8    129.5    130.5    130.4    130.2
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  115.6    116.4    117.5    117.3    117.9    119.2
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|  111.0    113.1    112.1    119.0    129.4    132.7
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   88.3     89.5     90.0     93.8     92.1     92.9
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  146.9    146.7    146.6    147.4    147.2    146.9
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  150.4    150.1    149.9    150.8    150.7    150.5
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  149.9    149.8    150.0    150.7    150.3    149.8
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  157.4    157.3    157.6    158.5    158.0    157.5
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  177.9    177.9    178.0    178.7    178.8    178.8
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|   95.2     95.9     98.0    102.0    100.5    100.1
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  134.8    135.0    135.4    135.5    135.7    135.6
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  136.0    136.3    136.6    136.7    136.9    136.7
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   98.1    101.2    100.0    108.9    123.2    127.6
      Crude materials less energy......................|  108.2    109.4    110.6    110.9    110.9    111.8
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  140.5    139.9    139.3    140.6    141.1    141.4
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 August 2002 have been recalculated
      to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.
  2/  Includes crude petroleum.
  3/  Excludes crude petroleum.



Technical Note



                Brief Explanation of Producer 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.

     More than 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.

     More than 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.

    The BLS periodically updates the PPI sample of survey respondents to
better reflect current conditions when the structure, membership,
technology, or product mix of an industry shifts significantly and to
spread reporting burden among smaller firms.  Results of these resampling
efforts are incorporated into the PPI every January and July.

    As part of an ongoing effort to expand coverage to sectors of the
economy other than mining and manufacturing, an increasing number of
service sector industries have been introduced into the PPI.  The following
list of recently introduced service industries includes the month in which
an article describing the industry's content appeared in the PPI Detailed
Report:

		                                 PPI Detailed	
        Industry                     SIC     Report Issue	
			
Wireless Telecommunications          4812     July 1999	
Telephone Communications, Except 
   Radio Telephone                   4813     July 1995
Television Broadcasting              4833     July 2002
Grocery Stores                       5411     July 2000	
Meat and Fish (Seafood) Markets,     5421     July 2000	
Fruit and Vegetable Markets          5431     July 2000	
Candy, Nut, and Confectionery Stores 5441     July 2000	
Retail Bakeries                      5461     July 2000	
Miscellaneous Food Stores            5499     July 2000	
New Car Dealers                      5511     July 2000
Gasoline Service Stations            5541     January 2002	
Boat Dealers                         5551     January 2002	
Recreational Vehicle Dealers         5561     January 2002	
Miscellaneous Retail                 59       January 2001
Security Brokers, Dealers, and 
   Investment Bankers	             6211     January 2001
Life Insurance Carriers              6311     January 1999	
Property and Casualty Insurance      6331     July 1998	
Operators and Lessors of 			
   Nonresidential Buildings          6512     January 1996	
Real Estate Agents and Managers      6531     January 1996	
Prepackaged Software                 7372     January 1998	
Data Processing Services             7374     January 2002	
Home Health Care Services            8082     January 1997	
Legal Services                       8111     January 1997	
Engineering, Design, Analysis,			
   and Consulting Services           8711     January 1997	
Architectural, Design, Analysis, 			
   and Consulting Services           8712     January 1997	
Premiums for Property and Casualty 			
   Insurance                         9331     July 1998	


     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, whereas 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
                  

                  Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

     Because price data are used for different purposes by different
groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted and
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
that can be related to actual dollar values of transactions.  Individuals
requiring this information include marketing specialists, purchasing
agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and commodity
traders.  It is the unadjusted data that are generally cited in escalating
long-term contracts such as purchasing agreements or real estate leases.
(See Escalation and Producer Price Indexes:  A Guide for Contracting
Parties, BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from BLS.)

     For more information, see (1) "Appendix A: Seasonal Adjustment
Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of Methods (April 1997), Bulletin
2490 and (2) "Summary of  Changes to the PPI's  Seasonal Adjustment
Methodology" in the January 1995 issue of Producer Price Indexes.