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http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   APRIL 9, 1999
                                     
                                     
                   Producer Price Indexes -- March 1999

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.2 percent in
March, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This rise follows a 0.4-percent
decline in February and a 0.5-percent increase in January.  Prices received
by producers of intermediate goods rose 0.3 percent, following a 0.5-
percent drop in the prior month.  The crude goods index advanced 1.0
percent, after a 3.4-percent decline in February.   (See table A.)

Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-
processing price
 indexes, seasonally adjusted
                     Finish                                  
                         ed
                      goods
                                                             
                                     Change in            
                            Except   finished   Inter-    
                                       goods
                             foods    from 12   mediateCrude
                              and     months
Month  Total  Foods  Energy energy      ago      goods goods
                                     (unadj.)
 1998                                                     
 Mar.     0.0   -0.2   -2.2     0.5        -1.5   -0.3   -1.4
 Apr.     0.2    0.4   -0.4     0.1        -0.9      0    1.3
 May     -0.1   -0.5    0.4     0.1        -0.8   -0.1   -0.6
 June    -0.2   -0.1   -0.8    -0.1        -0.7   -0.3   -2.7
 July     0.2    0.5   -0.1     0.2        -0.2      0    0.1
 Aug.    -0.3   -0.3   -1.9       0        -0.8   -0.3   -4.2
Sept.     0.2    0.2   -0.4     0.3        -0.9   -0.3   -1.8
 Oct.     0.3    0.4    0.8     0.1        -0.7   -0.2    2.5
 Nov.   r-0.2  r-0.4  r-1.3    r0.1       r-0.6   -0.2  r-0.1
 Dec.    r0.3  r-0.1  r-2.2     1.0        -0.1   -0.5  r-4.7
                                                             
 1999                                                        
 Jan.     0.5    1.6    1.8    -0.1         0.9    0.1    2.6
 Feb.    -0.4   -1.4   -1.0       0         0.5   -0.5   -3.4
 Mar.     0.2    0.4    1.2       0         0.8    0.3    1.0
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for November 1998
have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and
corrections by respondents.
                                    -2-

     Among finished goods, the indexes for finished consumer foods,
finished energy goods, and finished consumer goods other than foods and
energy turned up, after falling in February.  Capital equipment prices
showed no change in March, following a small increase a month ago. The
index for finished goods other than foods and energy was unchanged for the
second consecutive month.
     
     During the first quarter of 1999, the Finished Goods Price Index moved
upward at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.5 percent, following a 1.5-
percent rate of increase during the fourth quarter of 1998.  The index for
finished energy goods rose at an 8.6-percent annual rate from December to
March, after falling at a 10.4-percent annual rate over the last three
months of 1998.  Finished consumer food prices rose at an annual rate of
2.7 percent from December 1998 to March 1999, following a 0.3-percent
annual rate of decline during the fourth quarter of 1998.  The index for
finished consumer goods less foods and energy fell at a seasonally adjusted
annual rate of 0.3 percent, after an 8.0-percent rate of increase during
the fourth quarter of 1998.  Capital equipment prices turned down at a 0.3-
percent rate of decrease during the first three months of 1999, following a
0.3-percent rise in the final quarter of 1998.  Prices for finished goods
other than foods and energy fell at a 0.3-percent seasonally adjusted
annual rate, after rising at a 4.8-percent rate during the prior quarter.
     
     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods rose 0.2 percent in March to stand at 131.2 (1982=100).  From March
1998 to March 1999, the Finished Goods Price Index increased 0.8 percent.
Over the past 12 months, prices for finished goods other than foods and
energy rose 1.7 percent, prices for finished consumer foods advanced 0.9
percent, and the index for finished energy goods fell 3.8 percent.  Prices
received by domestic producers of intermediate goods fell 2.0 percent for
the 12 months ended in March, and the index for crude goods dropped 10.0
percent during the same period.

Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for
intermediate goods and
crude goods, seasonally adjusted
              Interm                           Crude           
              ediate                           goods
              goods
                            Change in                             
                            intermedi                        Change in
                               ate
                     Exclud   goods                  Excludicrude goods
                      ing      from                    ng       from
                     foods  12 months         Energy  foods  12 months
                      and      ago                     and      ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy  (unadj.)   Foods (unadj energy   (unadj.)
                                                .)
 1998                                                             
 Mar.    -1.3   -2.0    0.0       -1.8   -0.3   -2.9   -1.4     -7.6
 Apr.    -0.9    0.2      0       -1.6    0.3    4.5   -1.2     -7.0
 May      0.3    0.2   -0.1       -1.5   -1.5      0    0.1     -9.0
 June    -0.6   -1.1   -0.1       -1.8    0.4   -8.0   -0.4     -8.9
 July     0.4      0   -0.1       -1.6   -3.4    6.0   -1.5     -8.4
 Aug.    -0.4   -1.5   -0.1       -2.1   -1.1   -9.0   -2.8    -12.3
Sept.    -0.9   -0.5   -0.3       -2.5   -0.9   -3.6   -1.2    -15.1
 Oct.    -0.4    1.0   -0.3       -2.5    3.2    5.5   -3.0    -16.6
 Nov.    r0.8  r-1.1   -0.2       -2.9   -0.6   r2.0  r-2.2   r-18.4
 Dec.   r-0.9  r-3.3  r-0.1       -3.1   -4.1  r-7.3  r-1.8    -17.6
                                                                  
 1999                                                             
 Jan.     1.1    1.8   -0.2       -2.4    5.1    0.6    0.2    -10.6
 Feb.    -2.0   -1.7   -0.2       -2.7   -2.8   -7.4    1.1    -12.2
 Mar.    -1.6    2.2    0.1       -2.0   -1.3    6.1   -0.8    -10.0
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for November 1998
have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and
corrections by respondents.
                                    -3-

Finished goods

     Prices for finished consumer foods turned up 0.4 percent in March,
following a 1.4-percent decrease in the prior month.  The fresh and dry
vegetables index jumped 20.2 percent, after dropping 23.5 percent in the
previous month.  Prices for beef and veal, pork, and eggs for fresh use
also turned up, after falling in February.  The index for finfish and
shellfish rose 9.4 percent (the largest monthly increase since an 11.9-
percent advance in June 1986) compared with a 1.0-percent advance in the
prior month.  Prices for dairy products declined less than a month ago.  By
contrast, fresh fruit and melon prices fell 5.5 percent, following a 2.6-
percent rise a month ago.  The index for bakery products also turned down,
after increasing a month earlier.  Prices for processed fruits and
vegetables rose less than a month ago.

     The index for finished energy goods increased 1.2 percent in March,
following a 1.0-percent decrease in February.  Gasoline price increases
accelerated to 3.6 percent in March from a 0.2-percent rate of increase in
the prior month.  March was the third consecutive month with a gasoline
price increase.  The indexes for residential electric power, home heating
oil, and finished lubricants turned up, after falling in the previous
month.  By contrast, residential natural gas prices fell more than a month
ago.

     Prices for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy
increased 0.1 percent in March, following a 0.1-percent decline a month
ago.  The sanitary papers and health products index advanced 1.3 percent,
after decreasing 1.2 percent in the prior month.  Prices for newspaper
circulation and alcoholic beverages also turned up, after falling last
month.   The index for cosmetics and other toilet preparations rose, after
showing no change in the previous month.  By contrast, light motor truck
prices fell 0.2 percent, following a 0.4-percent rise in February.  The
indexes for household appliances and women's apparel also turned down,
after rising a month ago.  Prescription drug prices rose less than a month
earlier.

     Prices for capital equipment showed no change, after increasing 0.1
percent in February.  Over the past 12 months, the capital equipment index
edged down 0.1 percent.  In March, rising prices for civilian aircraft,
communication and related equipment, construction machinery and equipment,
and heavy motor trucks offset falling prices for light motor trucks,
electronic computers, and transformers and power regulators.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components increased 0.3 percent, seasonally adjusted, after registering a
0.5-percent decline in February.  During the first quarter of 1999, this
index fell at a 0.3-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after
declining at a 3.5-percent rate during the prior quarter.  In March, prices
for intermediate energy goods and nondurable manufacturing materials also
turned up, after falling in the previous month.  The indexes for durable
manufacturing materials and intermediate foods and feeds fell less than a
month ago.  The construction materials and components index rose more than
in the prior month.  Excluding foods and energy, the index for intermediate
materials edged up 0.1 percent, following 10 consecutive monthly declines.
(See table B.)
     
     The intermediate energy goods index increased 2.2 percent, after
posting a 1.7-percent drop in February.  This index increased at a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 9.7 percent during the first quarter of
1999, following a 12.9-percent rate of decline for the previous three
months.  In March, residual fuel prices jumped 23.8 percent, after falling
19.9 percent in the previous month.  The indexes for diesel fuel, jet
fuels, and commercial electric power also advanced, following declines in
the prior month.  Gasoline prices rose faster than in the previous month.
On the other hand, the index for natural gas to electric utilities turned
down 6.9 percent in March, after advancing 0.8 percent last month.
Commercial natural gas prices fell more than in the prior month.
                                    -4-
     
     Prices for nondurable manufacturing materials turned up 0.2 percent,
following a 0.8-percent decline in February.  This index declined at a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.6 percent during the first quarter of
1999, after falling at a 5.0-percent rate for the previous quarter.  In
March, the paperboard index increased 4.6 percent, after falling 0.8
percent in the previous month.  Prices for plastic resins and materials,
basic inorganic chemicals, processed yarns and threads, and gray fabrics
turned up, following declines in the prior month.  By contrast, the index
for primary basic organic chemicals turned down 2.5 percent, after rising
1.6 percent in February.  Prices for inedible fats and oils fell faster
than a month ago.  The synthetic fibers index turned down, following an
increase in the previous month.
     
     The durable manufacturing materials index decreased 0.2 percent in
March, after posting a 0.5-percent decline in February.  The March decline
represents the seventh consecutive monthly decrease.  From December 1998 to
March 1999, this index declined at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.7
percent, following a 7.3-percent rate of decline for the previous quarter.
In March, falling prices for steel mill products, primary aluminum, copper
cathode and refined copper, aluminum mill shapes, silver, and prepared
paint more than offset rising prices for flat glass, plywood, building
paper and board, and hardwood lumber.
     
     Intermediate foods and feeds prices declined 1.6 percent, following a
2.0-percent decrease in February.  During the first quarter of 1999, this
index fell at a 9.8-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after falling
at a 2.1-percent rate during the prior quarter.  In March, declining prices
for prepared animal feeds, crude vegetable oils, fluid milk products, and
flour outweighed rising prices for beef and veal, refined sugar, pork, and
confectionery materials.
     
     Prices for materials and components for construction increased 0.3
percent in March.  This rise was the fourth consecutive increase in the
index for construction materials.  From December 1998 to March 1999,
construction material prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate
of 2.5 percent, after declining at a 1.4-percent rate during the final
quarter of 1998.  In March, price increases for softwood lumber, plywood,
gypsum products, and millwork outweighed price declines for plastic
construction products, nonferrous wire and cable, and wiring devices.
     
Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
advanced 1.0 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, after registering a 3.4-
percent decline in February.  During the first quarter of 1999, this index
rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.4 percent, following a 9.3-
percent rate of decline in the final quarter of 1998.  In March, crude
energy material prices increased, after decreasing a month ago.  The crude
foodstuffs and feedstuffs index fell less than a month earlier.  On the
other hand, prices for basic industrial materials declined, after advancing
in the previous month.  (See table B.)

     Crude energy material prices rose 6.1 percent, after posting a 7.4-
percent decline in February.  This index retreated at a seasonally adjusted
annual rate of 4.4 percent from December 1998 to March 1999, following a
1.3-percent rate of decline from September 1998 to December 1998.  In
March, crude petroleum prices rose 27.1 percent, after dropping 13.8
percent in the prior month.  March's increase for crude petroleum is the
largest since a 29.7-percent rise in October 1990.  The coal index
increased, following a decline last month.  Natural gas prices fell less
than a month earlier.
                                    -5-

     Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs prices decreased 1.3 percent in March,
following a 2.8-percent decrease in February.  During the most recent
quarter, this index rose at a 3.3-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate,
after falling at a 6.2-percent rate in the prior quarter.  In March,
slaughter cattle prices advanced 4.6 percent, following a 1.7-percent
advance in the previous month.  The indexes for fresh and dry vegetables
and unprocessed finfish rose, after falling a month earlier.  Prices for
fluid milk decreased less than a month ago.  By contrast, the index for
slaughter broilers and fryers declined 5.4 percent, after registering a 2.4-
percent advance in February.  The fresh fruits and melons index also
decreased, following an increase in the previous month.  Prices for corn
and slaughter hogs fell more than in the prior month.

     The basic industrial materials index declined 0.8 percent in March,
after posting a 1.1-percent rise in February.  From December 1998 though
March 1999, this index rose at a 1.6-percent seasonally adjusted annual
rate, following a 24.6-percent rate of decline in the final quarter of
1998.  In March, the iron and steel scrap index decreased 4.4 percent,
after a 2.9-percent advance a month earlier.  Prices for copper ores and
aluminum base scrap also fell, after rising in the previous month.  Indexes
for wastepaper and gold ores rose less than last month.  Cattle hide prices
fell more than in the prior month.  By contrast, the raw cotton index
advanced 2.5 percent, following a 5.1-percent drop in February.  Copper
base scrap prices also rose, after falling a month earlier.  The indexes
for softwood logs and leaf tobacco increased more than in the prior month.
     
Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic
mining industries advanced 4.0 percent in March, following a 4.5-percent
decrease in February.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.)  During the first quarter of 1999, this index declined at an
annual rate of 4.2 percent, after decreasing at a 2.4 percent rate in the
final quarter of 1998.  In March, prices for the crude petroleum and
natural gas industry turned up 6.7 percent, after falling 7.0 percent in
the prior month.  The index for the bituminous coal and lignite mining
industry also turned up, after decreasing in the previous month.  Prices
for the mining of non-metallic minerals, except fuels, industry group rose
more rapidly in March than in February.  Prices for the lead and zinc ores
industry rose 8.6 percent, after falling 3.7 percent in February.  By
contrast, prices for the copper ores industry declined 5.0 percent, after
rising 1.9 percent in the previous month.  Price increases for the gold
ores industry slowed.  In March, the Producer Price Index for the net
output of total domestic mining industries stood at 64.6 percent (December
1984=100), 10.5 percent below its year-ago level.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total
domestic manufacturing industries increased 0.2 percent in March, after
falling a similar amount in February.  From December 1998 through March
1999, this index increased at an annual rate of 1.3 percent, after falling
at a 0.3-percent rate in the previous calendar quarter.  In March, prices
for the petroleum refining industry group rose 5.7 percent, after falling
4.6 percent in the prior month.  Prices for the paper and allied products,
measuring and controlling instruments, and electrical machinery and
equipment industry groups also turned up, after falling or showing no
change in the previous month.  Price decreases slowed for the food and
kindred products industry group.  By contrast, the index for the
transportation equipment industry group fell 0.2 percent, after declining
0.1 percent in February.  In March, the Producer Price Index for the net
output of the total domestic manufacturing industries stood at 126.2
(December 1984=100), 0.2 percent higher than its year-ago level.

Other.  Among other industries in March, increases were registered for
operators and lessors of nonresidential buildings, hotels and motels, real
estate agents and managers, property and casualty insurance, courier
services (except by air), radio broadcasting, and travel agencies.  By
contrast, price declines occurred for scheduled air transportation, offices
and clinics of doctors of medicine, line-haul railroad operations, trucking
(except local), freight transportation arrangement, and prepackaged
software.

     
                                    -6-
                                     
                                   *****
             Producer Price Index data for April 1999 will be
         released on Thursday, May 13, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T.)
                                   *****
Information in this news release will be made available to sensory impaired
 individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-7828; TDD phone: 202-606-
             5897; TDD Message Referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.

Table 1.  Producer price indexes and percent changes by stage of processing
(1982=100)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                 |          |                       |Unadjusted     |
                                                 |          |                       |  percent      |Seasonally adjusted
                                                 | Relative |    Unadjusted index   |change to      |percent change from:
                    Grouping                     |importance|                       |Mar. 1999 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |           Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   |  Mar. | Feb.  |Dec. to|Jan.  to |Feb.  to
                                                 |   1998 1/|1998 2/|1999 2/|1999 2/|  1998 | 1999  |  Jan. |   Feb.  |  Mar.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   130.9   130.9   131.2     0.8    0.2      0.5     -0.4     0.2
  Finished consumer goods........................|   74.764   129.0   129.2   129.6     1.2     .3       .8      -.6      .3
    Finished consumer foods......................|   23.289   134.9   133.9   134.6      .9     .5      1.6     -1.4      .4
      Crude......................................|    1.693   127.3   121.9   130.8      .5    7.3      7.5     -9.0     5.8
      Processed..................................|   21.596   135.5   134.9   134.9      .9    0        1.2      -.8     0
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.475   126.4   127.0   127.3     1.4     .2       .4      -.3      .3
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.162   121.4   122.7   123.2     1.9     .4       .6      -.3      .5
      Durable goods..............................|   16.313   134.4   133.4   133.1     -.1    -.2      -.3      -.1     -.2
  Capital equipment..............................|   25.236   138.2   137.9   137.8     -.1    -.1      -.1       .1     0
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.615   138.2   138.4   138.5      .4     .1      0         .1      .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   18.621   138.1   137.6   137.5     -.2    -.1      -.2       .1     0
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   121.8   120.5   120.8    -2.0     .2       .1      -.5      .3
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   47.742   124.6   123.6   123.5    -2.8    -.1      -.1      -.6     0
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.626   125.5   122.4   121.1      .1   -1.1      1.3     -2.0    -1.0
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   15.762   123.9   122.5   122.7    -4.6     .2      -.1      -.8      .2
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.444   125.1   123.6   123.4    -4.9    -.2      -.6      -.5     -.2
    Components for manufacturing.................|   17.910   125.8   125.7   125.7     -.2    0        -.1      -.1     0
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.989   146.6   147.2   147.7      .7     .3       .1       .2      .3
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   11.868    79.0    75.4    76.7    -3.6    1.7      1.6     -1.4     2.2
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    4.597    83.7    80.7    81.8    -3.0    1.4       .8     -1.9     1.6
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    7.271    76.1    72.1    73.5    -4.2    1.9      2.0     -1.2     2.7
  Containers.....................................|    3.880   139.4   137.8   138.0    -2.5     .1      -.1      -.6      .2
  Supplies.......................................|   22.521   134.3   133.9   133.7    -1.3    -.1      -.1      -.2     -.1
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    5.122   140.7   140.2   140.3     -.1     .1      -.3      -.1      .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.399   131.6   131.1   130.9    -1.7    -.2      -.2      -.3     -.2
      Feeds......................................|    1.231    92.9    91.0    87.8   -18.0   -3.5       .5     -2.2    -3.5
      Other supplies.............................|   16.168   136.3   136.0   136.1     -.1     .1      -.1      -.1      .1
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000    93.6    87.9    89.5   -10.0    1.8      2.6     -3.4     1.0
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   45.600   102.4    98.8    98.9    -7.0     .1      5.1     -2.8    -1.3
  Nonfood materials..............................|   54.400    84.1    77.3    79.8   -12.3    3.2       .5     -4.0     3.1
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   29.494    77.5    73.5    77.8   -11.1    5.9      3.9     -2.8     5.6
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   27.957    70.2    66.3    70.4   -11.4    6.2      4.1     -2.9     6.0
      Construction...............................|    1.537   189.3   193.2   194.3    -4.1     .6      -.9       .2      .5
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   24.906    86.4    76.3    76.2   -13.9    -.1     -3.7     -5.3     -.1
      Manufacturing industries...................|    2.071    83.8    74.7    74.3   -14.4    -.5     -5.4     -3.6     -.5
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   22.835    88.2    77.8    77.7   -13.9    -.1     -3.4     -5.6     -.1
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.711   129.6   129.9   130.1      .9     .2       .2      -.2      .2
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.143   122.2   121.0   121.3    -1.9     .2       .1      -.4      .3
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.857   115.5   112.7   110.9    -5.1   -1.6      1.1     -2.0    -1.6
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 51.467    83.0    76.3    78.8   -12.5    3.3       .5     -4.0     3.3
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 11.936    72.8    70.6    71.4    -3.8    1.1      1.8     -1.0     1.2
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 88.064   142.1   142.7   142.8     1.5     .1       .4      -.3      .1
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 62.828   143.6   144.6   144.8     2.1     .1       .6      -.5      .1
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 64.775   144.8   146.0   146.0     1.7    0        -.1      0       0
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 39.539   149.1   151.5   151.4     2.9    -.1      -.1      -.1      .1
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 23.226   160.3   165.5   165.7     5.2     .1       .2      -.1      .1
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 11.960    78.8    75.1    76.4    -3.8    1.7      1.8     -1.7     2.2
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 88.040   131.4   130.7   130.7    -1.8    0        -.2      -.3     0
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 83.183   132.4   131.9   132.0    -1.6     .1      -.2      -.2      .1
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 32.487    66.9    57.8    61.3   -11.9    6.1       .6     -7.4     6.1
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 67.514   109.3   106.8   106.7    -9.0    -.1      3.5     -1.5    -1.1
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.913   130.2   130.7   130.0   -12.9    -.5       .2      1.1     -.8
                                                 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          3/  Includes crude petroleum.
      after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            4/  Excludes crude petroleum.
      after final December indexes are available.  The first-published          5/  Percent of total finished goods.
      and final December relative importances initially appear,                 6/  Percent of total intermediate materials.
      respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data.      7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for
  2/  The indexes for November 1998 have been recalculated to incorporate           further processing, excluding crude
      late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and
      are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.                  animal fibers, oilseeds, and leaf tobacco."
                                                                                8/  Percent of total crude materials.
Table 2.  Producer price indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Mar. 1999 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   | Mar.  | Feb.  |Dec. to|Jan. to|Feb. to
           |                                                       |1998 1/|1999 1/|1999 1/| 1998  | 1999  |  Jan. |  Feb. |  Mar.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 130.9   130.9   131.2     0.8    0.2      0.5    -0.4     0.2
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 129.0   129.2   129.6     1.2     .3       .8     -.6      .3
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 134.9   133.9   134.6      .9     .5      1.6    -1.4      .4
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  87.4   106.3   100.5    16.5   -5.5     19.6     2.6    -5.5
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 124.5    95.2   114.4   -27.1   20.2     -9.8   -23.5    20.2
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................| 100.2    83.5    89.5    -9.2    7.2      2.7    -9.7     4.0
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 176.4   178.1   177.3     1.3    -.4       .4      .4     -.4
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 128.0   128.5   126.8     2.3   -1.3      1.2     -.8    -1.3
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 122.8   123.1   122.5      .7    -.5       .2      .2     -.5
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................|  99.7    99.9   102.7     4.4    2.8      5.7    -2.4     2.4
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................|  84.0    86.1    87.6    -5.8    1.7     18.3    -6.3     1.0
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 126.7   114.6   113.9    -4.5    -.6     -1.9    -3.0     -.7
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................| 102.4    85.4    87.3    -4.0    2.2     -7.0     -.4     1.3
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 186.3   186.9   204.6     9.3    9.5       .8     1.0     9.4
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 148.5   145.1   142.6     7.9   -1.7      3.4    -3.0    -1.4
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 126.3   127.2   127.5     1.8     .2       .1      .3      .2
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 169.1   170.1   169.4      .9    -.4       .5     -.5     -.4
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 134.9   136.5   137.2     1.5     .5      -.8      .6      .6
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 136.9   136.9   136.8    -9.1    -.1     -1.3     0       -.1
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 143.5   139.7   137.6    -1.7   -1.5     -1.8    -4.0    -1.5
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 126.4   127.0   127.3     1.4     .2       .4     -.3      .3
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 136.3   137.0   137.1     1.6     .1       .1     -.1      .1
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 123.0   122.4   122.1      .2    -.2       .2      .1     -.2
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 133.2   133.5   133.0      .1    -.4      -.1     -.1     -.3
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 121.0   121.3   118.5    -3.2   -2.3       .1     -.5    -2.3
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 123.2   123.1   123.7      .5     .5      -.1     0        .5
04-3       |   Footwear............................................| 144.7   145.9   145.6      .6    -.2      -.1      .3     -.2
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 108.3   107.3   107.3     -.9    0         .4     -.6      .2
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 113.5   115.3   112.3    -1.7   -2.6      1.0     -.5    -1.8
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  49.8    44.8    47.0    -9.1    4.9      6.5      .2     3.6
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  46.3    39.6    43.0   -13.5    8.6      6.4    -4.1    13.1
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription) 2/.....| 334.6   340.8   341.1     5.1     .1      1.4      .8      .1
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter) 2/..| 184.8   185.2   186.0     1.1     .4       .4     -.2      .4
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 125.2   125.4   125.5     -.6     .1       .2     0        .1
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 133.5   133.4   134.1     1.5     .5      -.4     0        .5
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  94.0    92.5    92.3    -2.3    -.2     -1.1     -.5     -.2
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 144.1   144.8   146.7     1.0    1.3       .8    -1.2     1.3
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 204.6   204.4   207.6     2.5    1.6       .9     -.1     1.6
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 195.9   196.9   196.0     1.6    -.5      -.4      .2     -.3
09-33      |   Book publishing 2/..................................| 212.1   211.7   211.3     4.2    -.2      1.4     -.6     -.2
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 149.2   149.9   150.1     1.6     .1      0        .3      .1
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 128.3   127.2   128.0     -.5     .6      -.9      .1      .6
12-4       |   Household appliances ...............................| 108.8   109.3   108.3     -.5    -.9      0        .5    -1.1
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  74.5    74.3    74.2    -3.4    -.1       .1     -.3     -.1
12-62      |   Household glassware 2/..............................| 162.3   162.8   162.9      .1     .1       .2     -.4      .1
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 139.3   140.0   140.0      .7    0         .4     0       0
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 132.2   132.2   132.3      .6     .1      0       0        .1
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 135.6   132.0   131.1    -1.6    -.7     -1.2     -.3     -.5
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 124.1   124.2   124.1     -.2    -.1       .2     -.2      .2
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 126.2   126.5   126.4      .2    -.1      -.2      .4     -.1
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 288.8   363.0   363.5    38.7     .1      -.2     0        .1
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 155.7   156.5   156.7     2.4     .1       .6      .5      .1
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 128.6   127.7   127.7     -.1    0         .2     -.9     0
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 139.7   140.0   139.9      .3    -.1       .3     -.1     -.1
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.2   137.9   137.8     -.1    -.1      -.1      .1     0
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 150.8   150.0   150.2     -.1     .1       .2      .1      .1
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 145.3   146.5   146.7     1.2     .1      -.3      .1      .3
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 160.2   160.4   160.5      .4     .1      0        .1      .1
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 158.4   159.3   159.4     1.3     .1       .4      .1      .1
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 139.0   139.1   139.2      .3     .1      0        .1      .1
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 149.5   151.1   151.4     1.8     .2       .2      .3      .1
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 131.8   132.4   132.6     1.4     .2       .2      .2      .2
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............|  22.3    20.7    20.5   -23.5   -1.0     -4.5    -1.4    -1.0
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 153.0   154.0   154.3      .8     .2       .1      .7      .2
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 160.9   161.4   161.8     1.5     .2       .2     -.8      .2
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 140.4   141.0   141.0     1.1    0         .1     -.8     0
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 131.0   131.3   130.5      .4    -.6       .1     -.1     -.6
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 113.7   114.1   114.2     -.3     .1       .1      .5      .1
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 106.2   105.9   106.1    -1.2     .2       .1     -.1      .2
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 126.3   126.5   126.5      .6    0        -.6      .2      .1
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 142.3   143.2   143.6      .6     .3       .5      .1      .3
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.3   112.0   112.0     -.4    0        -.3      .1     0
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 155.4   156.2   156.3      .7     .1       .2      .4      .1
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 159.3   158.8   158.1     1.3    -.4       .1      .4     -.2
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 145.0   145.8   146.1     3.6     .2      0        .1      .2
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 135.3   135.1   135.2      .1     .1      -.1     -.1      .1
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 150.5   151.0   151.1      .7     .1       .2     0        .2
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 145.8   145.8   145.8      .1    0        0       0       0
14-4       |   Railroad equipment..................................| 134.3   135.3   134.6      .1    -.5       .7      .1     -.1
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 121.8   120.5   120.8    -2.0     .2       .1     -.5      .3
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 115.5   112.7   110.9    -5.1   -1.6      1.1    -2.0    -1.6
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 110.4   106.2   104.6    -8.4   -1.5      -.3     -.6    -1.5
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 120.3   120.2   122.6     1.6    2.0     -1.0     1.4     2.0
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................|  92.9    93.0    93.5    -3.1     .5      1.6     -.5      .2
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 130.9   112.0    95.1   -29.5  -15.1      1.8    -9.5   -15.1
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 101.6    99.9    97.1   -14.7   -2.8       .3    -1.7    -2.8
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 122.2   121.0   121.3    -1.9     .2       .1     -.4      .3
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 107.2   105.0   104.5    -5.8    -.5     -2.1      .1     -.5
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 111.3   108.1   108.7    -4.1     .6      -.9    -1.8      .6
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 118.9   116.8   117.7    -4.3     .8     -1.0     -.8      .8
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 122.7   122.5   122.4    -1.7    -.1      -.3     -.2     0
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 130.4   129.2   128.9    -1.0    -.2     -1.3     0       -.2
04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 177.1   173.1   174.1    -2.7     .6     -2.8     0        .4
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  55.2    49.5    53.1   -19.5    7.3     -3.5    -1.6     7.3
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
See footnotes at end of table.

Table 2.  Producer price indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing - Continued
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Mar. 1999 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   | Mar.  | Feb.  |Dec. to|Jan. to|Feb. to
           |                                                       |1998 1/|1999 1/|1999 1/| 1998  | 1999  |  Jan. |  Feb. |  Mar.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 127.1   126.2   126.2     0.4    0        0.2    -0.3     0.4
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 127.6   126.6   126.5     -.2    -.1       .1     -.5     -.1
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 108.1   109.2   105.4    -2.5   -3.5       .7    -1.0    -1.6
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 105.1   101.3    99.1    -7.0   -2.2       .6    -2.9     -.2
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  81.9    80.9    74.3   -14.4   -8.2      -.8      .8    -6.9
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  46.2    36.1    38.0   -19.5    5.3      7.5    -2.7     9.9
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  46.1    37.0    42.6   -10.5   15.1      4.2    -3.3    16.4
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  39.0    28.2    34.9   -18.1   23.8     -3.0   -19.9    23.8
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 119.4   118.0   117.4    -4.6    -.5      -.8     -.8     -.5
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 156.0   157.1   157.0     1.6    -.1       .1      .2     -.3
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 143.7   142.9   143.1     -.4     .1      -.1    -1.1      .1
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals ..................| 135.2   138.8   138.6     2.5    -.1      2.9    -1.6      .2
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 111.0    98.9    78.0   -32.4  -21.1      0     -10.5   -21.1
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 114.0   114.0   114.5    -2.0     .4      -.3     -.5     0
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................|  98.4    96.1    97.2   -14.9    1.1     -1.9     -.2      .3
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 115.6   114.3   114.3     3.5    0        -.6     1.3     0
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals........................| 146.2   145.5   146.4    -2.5     .6     -2.7      .1      .8
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 117.1   115.1   117.2   -10.5    1.8      -.4     -.3     1.8
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 115.8   115.5   115.8    -1.6     .3      -.2     0        .3
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 125.1   124.9   124.1    -2.5    -.6       .2      .3     -.6
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 126.3   124.9   125.0    -2.7     .1      -.3    -1.0      .1
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.1   117.2   117.0     -.3    -.2      0        .1     -.2
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 170.3   186.8   193.7     0      3.7      4.1     3.0     3.7
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 177.0   175.0   176.5    -1.8     .9      -.3    -1.0      .7
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 171.5   171.9   172.2      .8     .2      0        .2      .2
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 160.9   168.9   172.7    14.1    2.2       .1     4.4     2.2
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 116.1   113.0   110.2   -12.8   -2.5      3.3    -2.7    -2.5
09-13      |   Paper...............................................| 142.6   141.1   139.8    -5.3    -.9      -.6     -.6     -.6
09-14      |   Paperboard..........................................| 144.7   141.7   146.6    -6.0    3.5       .6     -.8     4.6
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 153.0   150.2   150.6    -3.2     .3      -.1     -.5      .3
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 131.3   131.9   137.1     6.9    3.9       .3      .8     3.9
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 152.8   152.1   152.3      .8     .1      -.5      .1      .1
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 134.9   135.0   135.0     0      0        -.1     -.3     -.1
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 110.2   106.6   105.5    -8.7   -1.0     -1.5    -1.2    -1.0
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 100.6    96.1    94.1   -15.5   -2.1       .8    -3.5    -2.1
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 138.0   134.5   134.2    -7.6    -.2      -.8    -1.1     -.2
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 149.0   145.3   143.2    -9.0   -1.4      -.7     -.6    -1.4
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 138.3   134.7   134.0    -6.0    -.5      -.2    -1.0     -.5
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 107.2   107.0   107.0    -2.1    0        0      -1.5     0
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 147.2   147.2   147.3      .3     .1       .1     -.3     -.1
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 174.5   174.0   176.1      .2    1.2       .5    -1.5      .9
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 153.5   153.4   153.1     0      -.2      -.3     -.1     -.1
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 143.1   142.6   142.7      .8     .1      -.3     -.1     0
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.5   130.6   130.9      .8     .2       .3     -.1      .2
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 125.8   125.8   125.4     -.8    -.3      -.1     -.2     -.3
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 158.4   160.3   160.6     2.2     .2      -.2      .3      .3
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 135.9   136.1   136.1     2.2    0        -.1     -.1     0
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 158.6   159.9   160.4     3.0     .3       .4      .1      .3
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 165.7   166.3   166.3      .8    0        -.6      .1      .1
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 152.4   152.1   151.4    -2.2    -.5       .4    -1.0     -.5
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 146.1   146.3   146.4      .7     .1       .1     0        .1
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 150.0   150.0   149.8     1.3    -.1      0        .1     -.2
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  99.2    98.9    98.9    -1.8    0        -.3     -.3     0
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 141.1   143.1   142.6     1.6    -.3       .7      .6     -.3
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 136.8   136.8   136.8      .7    0         .1     0       0
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 106.9   104.4   106.9     -.1    2.4     -2.3     0       2.4
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 148.0   149.0   149.3     5.7     .2       .5      .1      .6
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 141.4   142.6   142.7     3.7     .1       .4      .3     -.1
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................| 100.1    98.6    98.3     -.1    -.3      -.1    -1.5     -.3
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 182.9   191.2   195.0    12.5    2.0      1.1     2.9     2.0
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 126.0   125.8   125.9     0       .1       .5     -.6      .1
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 114.6   113.7   113.8    -1.0     .1      -.4     0        .1
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 138.1   139.6   139.8     1.9     .1      -.9      .9     -.2
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 144.4   143.5   144.0     1.5     .3       .3     -.2      .3
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 129.0   125.1   125.1    -3.0    0        0      -3.0     0
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 144.0   143.7   144.6      .8     .6      -.2     -.3      .6
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................|  93.6    87.9    89.5   -10.0    1.8      2.6    -3.4     1.0
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 102.4    98.8    98.9    -7.0     .1      5.1    -2.8    -1.3
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................|  89.9    83.0    79.6   -18.4   -4.1       .9    -4.3    -4.1
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................|  84.1    84.5    84.7   -22.4     .2     -3.6    -1.3    -7.2
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................|  91.2    93.1    97.4     2.4    4.6      6.8     1.7     4.6
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  30.2    46.4    44.8   -21.0   -3.4    188.6    -1.2    -6.4
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 157.2   136.0   132.1    -1.9   -2.9     -5.6     2.4    -5.4
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 138.1    97.0   103.9     8.6    7.1     -3.5     1.1     2.4
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 130.5   117.2   110.2     7.0   -6.0      -.8    -8.3    -5.4
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................|  96.0    84.0    78.5   -30.7   -6.5     -1.0    -8.5    -6.5
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 116.4   118.7   118.4     2.2    -.3       .9     -.3     -.3

           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................|  84.1    77.3    79.8   -12.3    3.2       .5    -4.0     3.1
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................| 112.3    91.7    97.4   -11.5    6.2     -4.3    -5.1     2.5
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 112.0   112.6   114.6     7.4    1.8      -.2      .2     1.8
04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 133.1   142.9   132.8    -8.9   -7.1       .3     -.6    -7.1
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  94.2    90.2    92.4    -1.2    2.4      2.8    -4.8     2.4
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................|  83.1    71.0    69.8   -19.2   -1.7     -7.0    -5.0    -1.7
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  32.7    26.2    33.3    -7.0   27.1     16.5   -13.8    27.1
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 199.4   202.1   202.4    -6.7     .1     -1.2     -.5      .1
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 117.3   139.6   142.7   -12.1    2.2      5.8    13.3     2.2
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  95.6    94.9    95.2     0       .3      -.8     0        .3
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 119.2   129.8   124.1   -33.4   -4.4      6.2     2.9    -4.4
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  63.8    61.5    60.9   -10.8   -1.0     -1.3     2.0    -1.0
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 106.6    90.6    98.9   -20.0    9.2     -5.7    -4.4     9.2
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 145.5   146.1   145.8   -19.7    -.2     -2.7      .6     -.8
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 153.7   154.9   155.9     3.1     .6      -.4      .6      .5
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1/  The indexes for November 1998 have been recalculated to incorporate         2/  Not seasonally adjusted.
    late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes are               3/  Not available.
    subject to revision 4 months after original publication.

Table 3.  Producer price indexes for selected commodity groupings
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
         |                                                |                                   |
         |                                                |         Unadjusted index 1/       |
Commodity|                                                |___________________________________|
  code   |                    Grouping                    | Nov. 1998 | Feb. 1999 |March 1999 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   367.4   |   367.4   |   368.3   |
         | All commodities................................|   123.6   |   122.4   |   122.8   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   122.5   |   120.2   |   120.3   |
01       |   Farm products................................|   103.1   |    98.6   |    99.1   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   132.0   |   130.9   |   130.8   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   123.8   |   122.8   |   123.3   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   122.2   |   121.3   |   121.1   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   144.9   |   145.9   |   144.6   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    73.2   |    68.8   |    70.4   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   143.0   |   142.7   |   142.8   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   122.2   |   121.7   |   121.7   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   175.2   |   179.8   |   181.9   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   170.6   |   170.7   |   171.2   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   124.8   |   123.6   |   123.0   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   124.6   |   124.7   |   124.7   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   131.3   |   131.6   |   131.6   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   136.5   |   137.2   |   137.8   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   142.8   |   142.0   |   141.8   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   156.4   |   165.3   |   165.6   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   138.4   |   138.6   |   138.7   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   110.8   |   110.6   |   114.8   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|    88.5   |    86.4   |    84.9   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    74.9   |    81.0   |    83.6   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   151.4   |   126.4   |   124.8   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|   110.9   |    90.8   |    96.3   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   124.6   |    98.2   |   104.9   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   117.8   |   103.5   |   102.2   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   108.8   |    93.0   |    91.3   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   167.0   |   167.9   |   171.0   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   157.8   |   158.1   |   157.1   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   111.2   |   109.4   |   112.2   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   123.4   |   113.0   |   113.6   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   134.4   |   135.0   |   135.2   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   137.2   |   138.1   |   138.4   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   134.7   |   134.6   |   134.5   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   144.2   |   132.0   |   123.8   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   126.9   |   126.8   |   126.3   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   144.8   |   145.3   |   145.4   |
05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|    74.8   |    64.5   |    64.6   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   127.0   |   126.0   |   126.0   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    48.8   |    42.5   |    45.7   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   248.5   |   252.8   |   252.8   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   126.3   |   125.1   |   125.8   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   135.0   |   134.7   |   134.9   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   115.1   |   114.4   |   114.3   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   115.2   |   114.9   |   115.2   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   138.7   |   138.7   |   138.3   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   128.8   |   128.3   |   128.4   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   170.4   |   181.2   |   186.4   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   143.6   |   142.7   |   143.3   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   150.7   |   149.5   |   150.2   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   115.6   |   114.0   |   112.8   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   118.1   |   115.5   |   114.6   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   132.9   |   129.8   |   129.0   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   147.5   |   147.7   |   147.9   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   148.1   |   149.1   |   149.1   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   160.0   |   160.6   |   160.9   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   120.6   |   120.6   |   120.6   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   132.3   |   133.0   |   133.0   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   151.7   |   151.9   |   152.2   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   149.0   |   150.2   |   150.9   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   133.6   |   132.0   |   131.6   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   132.4   |   132.7   |   132.7   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   114.3   |   110.6   |   111.4   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   134.6   |   135.0   |   135.0   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|

1/  Data for November 1998 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports
    and corrections by respondents.  All data are subject to revision 4 months after
    original publication.

2/  Prices of some items in this grouping are lagged 1 month.

Table 4.  Producer price indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Mar._1999_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                  |                                              |     |Nov.   |Feb.   |Mar.   |  Mar.  |  Feb.
                  |                                              |     |1998 2/|1999 2/|1999 2/|  1998  |  1999
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  68.9    62.1    64.6    -10.5      4.0
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  71.0    69.1    68.9     -7.6      -.3
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  89.6    87.1    88.7     -1.1      1.8
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  65.9    57.3    60.3    -14.1      5.2
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 132.8   133.1   133.7      1.8       .5
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 126.2   126.0   126.2       .2       .2
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 126.6   125.9   125.5    0          -.3
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 248.4   315.9   315.8     41.2    0
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 117.8   116.8   116.8     -2.0    0
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 125.0   125.1   125.0       .4      -.1
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 155.2   158.3   160.1      1.2      1.1
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 140.0   140.6   140.8      1.0       .1
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 134.0   132.8   133.2     -3.1       .3
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 175.2   176.3   176.5      2.0       .1
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 148.1   148.1   148.1      -.7    0
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  63.3    56.1    59.3     -9.6      5.7
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 121.7   121.2   121.2     -1.1    0
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 136.5   136.6   136.8      -.4       .1
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 130.3   131.1   131.7      3.0       .5
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 118.0   115.4   114.9     -6.4      -.4
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 128.8   128.8   128.8       .2    0
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 117.4   117.5   117.5      -.3    0
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 110.1   109.8   109.9      -.7       .1
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 135.4   134.6   134.3       .3      -.2
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 126.1   126.0   126.4       .2       .3
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 129.7   130.1   130.3       .5       .2
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Services industries                           |     |
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 101.5   101.0   100.8      -.8      -.2
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 112.5   113.4   113.9      2.9       .4
       43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3   135.4   135.4      2.3    0
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 107.3   105.0   105.9      3.5       .9
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 126.1   128.6   128.5      3.9      -.1
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86|  99.2    98.2    98.2     -1.1    0
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 108.3   109.2   109.2      1.8    0
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 106.5   107.6   107.7      1.7       .1
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes.  Because of differences
   in coverage and aggregation methodology, they will generally not match the movements of similarly-titled
   indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings.
2/ The indexes for November 1998 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                                |        |        |        |        |        |       
                                                       |  Oct.  |  Nov.  |  Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb.  |  Mar. 
                                                       |  1998  |  1998  |  1998  |  1999  |  1999  |  1999 
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
      Finished goods...................................|  131.0    130.7    131.1    131.8    131.3    131.6
        Finished consumer goods........................|  129.3    128.9    129.5    130.5    129.7    130.1
          Finished consumer foods......................|  135.0    134.5    134.3    136.5    134.6    135.2
            Crude......................................|  133.5    126.6    128.5    138.2    125.7    133.0
            Processed..................................|  135.0    135.1    134.8    136.4    135.3    135.3
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  126.7    126.3    127.3    127.8    127.4    127.8
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  122.3    121.7    123.2    124.0    123.6    124.2
            Durable goods..............................|  133.4    133.5    133.3    132.9    132.8    132.6
        Capital equipment..............................|  137.7    137.8    137.7    137.5    137.6    137.6
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  138.0    138.1    138.1    138.1    138.3    138.4
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  137.5    137.6    137.4    137.1    137.2    137.2
                                                       |
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  122.2    121.9    121.3    121.4    120.8    121.2
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  125.0    124.6    124.3    124.2    123.5    123.5
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  124.8    125.0    123.7    125.3    122.8    121.6
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  124.3    123.8    123.5    123.4    122.4    122.7
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  126.0    125.2    124.8    124.1    123.5    123.3
          Components for manufacturing.................|  125.9    125.9    125.8    125.7    125.6    125.6
        Materials and components for construction......|  146.8    146.7    146.8    147.0    147.3    147.7
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   80.5     79.5     77.0     78.2     77.1     78.8
          Manufacturing industries ....................|   85.4     84.6     83.2     83.9     82.3     83.6
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   77.4     76.4     73.3     74.8     73.9     75.9
        Containers.....................................|  139.4    139.2    138.6    138.5    137.7    138.0
        Supplies.......................................|  134.2    134.4    134.3    134.1    133.8    133.6
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  140.7    140.7    140.7    140.3    140.2    140.3
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  131.4    131.6    131.6    131.4    131.0    130.8
            Feeds......................................|   90.4     92.9     92.5     93.0     91.0     87.8
            Other supplies.............................|  136.3    136.3    136.3    136.1    135.9    136.0
                                                       |
      Crude materials for further processing...........|   93.9     93.8     89.4     91.7     88.6     89.5
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|  103.2    102.6     98.4    103.4    100.5     99.2
        Nonfood materials..............................|   84.1     84.3     80.0     80.4     77.2     79.6
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|   80.8     77.9     72.7     75.5     73.4     77.5
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   73.2     70.5     65.5     68.2     66.2     70.2
            Construction...............................|  192.5    192.1    192.4    190.6    190.9    191.9
          Crude fuel 3/................................|   81.9     86.4     83.7     80.6     76.3     76.2
            Manufacturing industries...................|   80.0     83.8     81.9     77.5     74.7     74.3
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|   83.6     88.2     85.3     82.4     77.8     77.7
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  129.7    129.5    130.1    130.4    130.2    130.4
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  122.7    122.3    121.7    121.8    121.3    121.7
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  114.2    115.1    114.1    115.3    113.0    111.2
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|   82.9     83.1     78.9     79.3     76.1     78.6
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   74.2     73.2     71.6     72.9     72.2     73.1
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  141.7    141.7    142.7    143.2    142.7    142.8
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  143.3    143.2    144.6    145.5    144.7    144.9
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  144.3    144.4    145.8    145.7    145.7    145.7
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  148.7    148.7    151.3    151.2    151.1    151.2
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  160.4    160.4    165.3    165.6    165.4    165.6
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|   80.2     79.3     76.7     78.1     76.8     78.5
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  131.6    131.4    131.2    131.0    130.6    130.6
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  132.7    132.4    132.3    132.1    131.8    131.9
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   65.6     66.9     62.0     62.4     57.8     61.3
      Crude materials less energy......................|  110.9    109.7    106.0    109.7    108.0    106.8
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  134.0    131.1    128.8    129.0    130.4    129.3
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  All seasonally adjusted indexes are subject to change up to 5 years after original publication due
      to the recalculation of seasonal factors each January.  The indexes for November 1998 have been
      recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.  
  2/  Includes crude petroleum.
  3/  Excludes crude petroleum.

Technical Notes





Brief Explanation of
Producer Price Indexes

     Producer price indexes (PPI) measure average changes in
prices received by domestic producers of commodities in all
stages of processing. Most of the information used in
calculating the indexes is obtained through the systematic
sampling of nearly every industry in the manufacturing and
mining sectors of the economy. The PPI program also includes
some information from other sectors--agriculture, fishing,
forestry, services, and gas and electricity. Because
producer price indexes are designed to measure only the
change in prices received for the output of domestic
industries, imports are not included. The sample currently
contains about 3,200 commodities and 80,000 quotations per
month.
     There are three primary systems of indexes within the
PPI program: (1) Stage of processing indexes; (2) commodity
indexes; and (3) indexes for the net output of industries
and their products. The stage-of-processing structure
(tables 1 and 2) organizes products by class of buyer and
degree of processing. The commodity structure (tables 2 and
3) organizes products by similarity of end-use or material
composition. The entire output of various industries is
sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of
industries and their products (table 4).
     Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods
are commodities that will not undergo further processing and
are ready for sale to the final demand user, either an
individual consumer or business firm. Consumer foods include
unprocessed foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables, as well
as processed foods such as bakery products and meats. Other
finished consumer goods include durable goods such as
automobiles, household furniture, and appliances, and
nondurable goods such as apparel and home heating oil.
Capital equipment includes producer durable goods such as
heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine tools.
     The stage-of-processing category for intermediate
materials, supplies, and components consists partly of
commodities that have been processed but require further
processing. Examples of such semifinished goods include
flour, cotton yarn, steel mill products, and lumber. The
intermediate goods category also encompasses nondurable,
physically complete items purchased by business firms as
inputs for their operations. Examples include diesel fuel,
belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers.
     Crude materials for further processing are products
entering the market for the first time that have not been
manufactured or fabricated and that are not sold directly to
consumers. Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs include items
such as grains and livestock. Examples of crude nonfood
materials include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides
and skins, and iron and steel scrap.
     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries
and their products are grouped according to the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) and the Census product code
extension of the SIC. Industry price indexes are compatible
with other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such
as data on employment, wages, and productivity. Table 4
lists indexes for the net output of major mining and
manufacturing industry groups at the 2-digit level.
     Producer price indexes are based on selling prices
reported by establishments of all sizes selected by
probability sampling, with the probability of selection
proportionate to size. Individual items and transaction
terms from these firms are also chosen by probability
proportionate to size. BLS strongly encourages cooperating
companies to supply actual transaction prices at the time of
shipment to minimize the use of list prices. Prices are
normally reported by mail questionnaire for the Tuesday of
the week containing the 13th.
     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential
basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to
individual company price reports. All producer price indexes
are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months after
original publication, to reflect the availability of late
reports and corrections by respondents.
     Net output values of shipments are used as weights for
industry indexes. Net output values refer to the value of
shipments from establishments in one industry to
establishments classified in another industry. However,
weights for commodity price indexes are based on gross
shipment values, including shipment values between
establishments within the same industry. As a result, broad
commodity grouping indexes such as the all commodities index
are affected by the multiple counting of price change at
successive stages of processing, which can lead to
exaggerated or misleading signals about inflation. Stage-of-
processing indexes partially correct this defect, but
industry indexes consistently correct for this at all levels
of aggregation. Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing
indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings
for economic analysis of general price trends.
     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the
PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing
indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings,
currently reflect 1987 values of shipments as reported in
the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January
1987 through December 1991, PPI weights were derived from
1982 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are
also now calculated with 1987 net output weights.
     Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many
important PPI series (including stage-of-processing
groupings and most commodity groups and individual items)
were placed on a new reference base, 1982=100, to coincide
with the reference year of the shipment weights. From 1971
through 1987, the standard reference base for most PPI
series was 1967=100. Except for rounding differences, the
shift to the new reference base did not alter any changes to
previously published percent changes for affected PPI
series. (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.) The new
reference base is not used for indexes with a base later
than December 1981, nor for indexes for the net output of
industries and their products.
     For further information on the underlying concepts and
methodology of the Producer Price Index, see chapter 16,
"Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (September
1992), Bulletin 2414. Reprints are available from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics on request.

Calculating Index Changes

     Movements of price indexes from one month to another
are usually expressed as percent changes rather than as
changes in index points because index point chances are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period, while percent changes are not. The box shows the
computation of index point and percent changes.
     Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods can be
expressed as annual rates that are computed according to the
standard formula for compound growth rates. These data
indicate what the percent change would be if the rate for a
given 3- or 6-month span were maintained for a 12-month
period.





                Index Point Change

     Finished Goods Price Index    107.5
     Less previous index           104.0
     Equals index point change       3.5

          Index Percent Change

     Index point change              3.5
     Divided by the previous index 104.0
     Equals                          0.034
     Result multiplied by 100        0.034 x 100
     Equals percent change           3.4

     Each index measures price changes from a reference
period which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). An
increase of 5.5 percent from the reference period in the
Finished Goods Price Index, for example, is shown as 105.5.
This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:
"Prices received by domestic producers of a systematic
sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to
$105.50 to-day." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would
indicate that prices received by producers of finished goods
today are 10 percent lower than they were in 1982.

Seasonally Adjusted
and Unadjusted Data

     Because price data are used for different purposes by
different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
month.
     Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing
general price trends in the economy because they eliminate
the effect of changes that normally occur at about the same
time and in about the same magnitude every year-such as
price movements resulting from normal weather patterns,
regular production and marketing cycles, model changeovers,
seasonal discounts, and holidays. For these reasons,
seasonally adjusted data more clearly reveal underlying
cyclical trends.
     Unadjusted data are of primary interest to users who
need information which can be related to actual dollar
values of transactions. Individuals requiring this
information include marketing specialists, purchasing
agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and
commodity traders. It is the unadjusted data that are
generally cited in escalating long-term contracts such as
purchasing agreements or real estate leases. (See Escalation
and Producer Price Indexes: A Guide for Contracting Parties,
BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from
BLS.)
     For more information, see "Appendix A: Seasonal
Adjustment Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of
Methods (September 1992), Bulletin 2414.