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FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:          TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
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MEDIA CONTACT:  (202) 691-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST), FRIDAY,
http://www.bls.gov/ppi              NOVEMBER 15, 2002
                                     
                  Producer Price Indexes -- October 2002

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods jumped 1.1 percent in
October, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This index edged up 0.1 percent in
September and showed no change in August.  Rising prices for gasoline,
light trucks, and passenger cars led the increase in the finished goods
index in October.  At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by
producers of intermediate goods advanced 0.7 percent, following a 0.5-
percent rise in September.  The crude goods index jumped 3.4 percent in
October, compared with a 0.6-percent increase in the preceding month.  (See
table A.)

 Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-processing price
 indexes, seasonally adjusted
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
|        |                                                         |         |         |
|        |                   Finished  goods                       |         |         |
|        |                                                         |         |         |
|        |---------------------------------------------------------|         |         |
|        |          |          |          |         |  Change in   |         |         |
|        |          |          |          | Except  |finished goods| Inter-  |         |
|        |          |          |          |foods and|from 12 months| mediate |  Crude  |
| Month  |  Total   |  Foods   |  Energy  | energy  |  ago(unadj.) | goods   |  goods  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 2001                                                    
   Oct.      -1.3       -0.1       -6.7       -0.4        -0.3        -1.3       -8.8
   Nov.       -.6        -.8       -3.9         .1        -1.2         -.7        4.9
   Dec.       -.4        -.1       -3.0         .2        -1.6         -.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      r .1       r .2      r -.1       r .1      r -2.3        r .2     r -3.7
   July     r -.1        -.1       r .8        -.3        -1.1        r .3      r 1.2
   Aug.         0        -.4        1.0        -.1        -1.6          .4        1.6
   Sept.       .1        -.6         .9         .1        -1.9          .5         .6
   Oct.       1.1         .7        4.2         .5          .6          .7        3.4
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ 
from those previously reported because data for June 2002 have been revised to 
reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -2-

     Among finished goods, the index for finished energy goods advanced 4.2
percent in October, following a 0.9-percent gain in September.  (Excluding
gasoline, prices for finished goods would have risen 0.6 percent in
October.)  The index for finished consumer foods turned up 0.7 percent in
October, after falling 0.6 percent in September.  Prices for finished goods
other than foods and energy rose 0.5 percent in October, compared with a
slight increase of 0.1 percent in the prior month.  (Excluding passenger
cars and light trucks, prices for finished goods other than foods and
energy would have inched 0.1 percent higher in October.)

     For the first 10 months of 2002, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods increased at a 2.0-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, following
a 1.6-percent rate of decline in calendar-year 2001.  Prices for finished
goods other than foods and energy edged up at a 0.2-percent seasonally
adjusted annual rate during the first 10 months of 2002, after posting a
0.9-percent gain in 2001.  Among prices for raw and partially processed
goods, the intermediate goods index advanced at a 3.7-percent seasonally
adjusted annual rate from December 2001 through October 2002, compared with
a 4.0-percent decrease in 2001.  Prices for crude goods jumped at a 21.5-
percent seasonally adjusted annual rate during the first 10 months of 2002,
after dropping 32.5 percent in 2001.

     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods increased 1.2 percent to 140.6 (1982 = 100).  From October 2001 to
October 2002, finished goods prices rose 0.6 percent.  During the same
period, the index for finished energy goods advanced 4.9 percent and prices
for finished goods other than foods and energy increased 0.5 percent.  By
contrast, the index for finished consumer foods declined 2.2 percent for
the 12 months ended in October.  Earlier in the pipeline, prices received
by intermediate goods producers moved up 1.6 percent, and the crude goods
index jumped 14.3 percent from October 2001 to October 2002.

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                                                           
   Oct.   -0.4     -6.2    -0.4       -2.4      -3.5    -17.9      -1.5     -25.1
   Nov.   -1.6     -3.2     -.2       -3.0      -4.9     19.9       -.3     -20.5
   Dec.   -1.1     -2.9     -.2       -4.0      -2.3    -15.0       -.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  r 1.2      r 0    r .1     r -2.8     r -.9   r -9.7     r 2.8   r -12.4
   July  r 1.2    r -.1    r .3       -1.5     r 1.8     r .7     r 1.3      -6.2
   Aug.     .6       .6      .4        -.9       2.0      1.6        .4      -4.2
   Sept.   1.2      2.5      .1        -.5       2.0      -.1       -.6        .8
   Oct.    -.2      4.1      .1        1.6       -.1      8.9        .9      14.3
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may 
differ from those previously reported because data for June 2002 have been 
revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -3-

Finished goods

     The October index for finished energy goods advanced 4.2 percent,
after posting a 0.9-percent gain a month earlier.  Leading the rise in
energy goods prices, the gasoline index surged 17.9 percent.  Prices for
residential natural gas, home heating oil, diesel fuel, and liquefied
petroleum gas also increased in October.  On the other hand, the index for
residential electric power fell 0.3 percent in October.

     Prices for finished consumer foods rose 0.7 percent in October,
compared with a 0.6-percent decline in the prior month.  The index for pork
jumped 11.5 percent, following a 5.4-percent decrease in September.  Prices
for dairy products, fresh and dry vegetables, and fresh fruits and melons
also turned up in October.  The index for finfish and shellfish increased
at a quicker pace in October than it did in the preceding month.  By
contrast, prices for beef and veal fell 2.6 percent, after rising 1.0
percent in September.  The indexes for processed fruits and vegetables and
soft drinks also turned down in October.

     Prices for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy
advanced 0.6 percent in October, after edging up 0.1 percent in September.
The index for passenger cars jumped 2.2 percent, following a 0.2-percent
rise in the prior month.  For the 12 months ended in October 2002,
passenger car prices increased 2.1 percent.  Light motor truck prices
advanced 1.9 percent, following a 0.2-percent decline in the prior month.
From October 2001 to October 2002, prices for light motor trucks declined
3.0 percent.  In accordance with usual practice, most new model year
passenger cars and light trucks were introduced into the PPI in October.
(See Report on Quality Changes for 2003 Model Vehicles, USDL 02-634.)  The
indexes for pharmaceutical preparations, alcoholic beverages, and women's
apparel advanced at a faster rate in October than they did in the preceding
month.  Prices for men's and boys' apparel, for girls', children's, and
infants' apparel, and for household furniture rose, after showing no change
in September.  On the other hand, the index for soaps and synthetic
detergents decreased 0.5 percent, following a 1.0-percent gain in the
previous month.  Prices for prerecorded compact discs, mobile homes, and
periodical circulation also turned down in October.

     The capital equipment index increased 0.4 percent in October, after
posting no change in September.  Most of this acceleration was due to
higher prices for light motor trucks and passenger cars.  Light motor truck
prices advanced 1.9 percent, following a 0.2-percent decline in the prior
month.  The indexes for passenger cars and civilian aircraft rose more in
October than they did in September.  Prices for integrating and measuring
instruments and welding machines and equipment turned up in October, after
decreasing a month earlier.  The October index for communication and
related equipment fell less than it did in September.  Conversely, prices
for electronic computers declined 1.7 percent in October, compared with a
0.5-percent decrease in the preceding month.  The index for x-ray and
electromedical equipment also fell more than it did in September.  Prices
for heavy motor trucks were unchanged in October, after rising 0.5 percent
in the prior month.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components increased 0.7 percent in October, after rising 0.5 percent in
September.  Most of this increase was due to higher prices for intermediate
energy goods, although the index for nondurable manufacturing materials
also rose in October.  By contrast, prices for materials and components for
construction and for intermediate foods and feeds fell in October, and the
index for durable manufacturing materials showed no change.  Excluding
foods and energy, the intermediate goods index edged up 0.1 percent for the
second consecutive month.  (See table B.)

                                    -4-

     Prices for intermediate energy goods advanced 4.1 percent in October,
after posting a 2.5-percent gain in September.  The gasoline index led this
acceleration, jumping 17.9 percent in October following a 1.5-percent
decline in the prior month.  Prices for diesel fuel, commercial natural
gas, and commercial electric power rose more than they did in September.
On the other hand, the index for industrial electric power decreased 0.9
percent, after advancing at the same rate in September.  Prices for
liquefied petroleum gas, residual fuel, industrial natural gas, and jet
fuels increased less in October than they did a month earlier.

     The index for nondurable manufacturing materials rose 0.8 percent in
October, the same rate of increase as in September.  Price increases for
ethanol, paper, rock salt, finished fabrics, medicinal and botanical
chemicals, and fertilizer materials outweighed falling prices for plastic
resins and materials, inedible fats and oils, liquid refinery gases, and
paperboard.

     Prices for construction materials declined 0.3 percent in October,
after inching up 0.1 percent in September.  Leading this deceleration, the
index for plastic construction products fell 3.5 percent, following a 3.4-
percent increase a month earlier.  Prices for wiring devices and fabricated
ferrous wire products also turned down, after rising in September.  The
indexes for fabricated structural metal products and for air conditioning
and refrigeration equipment declined, after showing no change in the
previous month.  By contrast, softwood lumber prices edged up 0.2 percent
in October, following a 1.6-percent drop in September.  The indexes for
asphalt felts and coatings, gypsum products, and for nonferrous wire and
cable also turned up in October.  Plywood prices decreased less in October
than they did in the prior month.

     The index for intermediate foods and feeds inched down 0.2 percent in
October, after posting a 1.2-percent gain in September.  Prices for
prepared animal feeds fell 1.8 percent in October, following a 1.9-percent
increase a month earlier.  Likewise, the indexes for beef and veal, flour,
and crude vegetable oils turned down in October.  The rate of increase in
prices for confectionery materials slowed from September to October.  On
the other hand, the pork index advanced 11.5 percent in October, following
a 5.4-percent decline in the prior month.  Prices for natural, processed,
and imitation cheese and butter also posted increases, after falling in
September.

     The durable manufacturing materials index showed no change in October,
following a 0.2-percent gain in September.  The rate of increase in prices
for steel mill products slowed to 0.3 percent from a 1.1-percent rate in
the prior month.  Following increases in September, prices turned down for
prepared paint, copper and brass mill shapes, and gold.  Conversely, the
index for aluminum mill shapes advanced 0.5 percent in October, after
declining 0.2 percent in September.  Prices for plywood, building paper and
board, and flat glass fell more slowly in October than they did in the
prior month.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
advanced 3.4 percent in October, compared with a 0.6-percent increase in
the previous month.  Prices for crude energy materials and crude nonfood
materials less energy moved up, after decreasing in September.  On the
other hand, the crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs index declined, following
an increase in the prior month.  (See table B.)

     Prices for crude energy materials rose 8.9 percent in October, after
edging down 0.1 percent a month earlier.  The natural gas index jumped 18.5
percent, following a 4.8-percent decline in September.  Coal prices
increased 0.9 percent, after falling 0.4 percent in the previous month.
Alternatively, the index for crude petroleum moved up 1.7 percent, compared
with a 5.8-percent gain in the prior month.

                                    -5-

     Basic industrial materials prices turned up 0.9 percent in October,
following a 0.6-percent decline in September.  The aluminum base scrap
index advanced 2.3 percent, after moving down 1.3 percent in the previous
month.  Prices for leaf tobacco, raw cotton, and copper base scrap also
increased, after falling a month earlier.  Prices for wastepaper decreased
at a slower rate than they did in September.  The iron and steel scrap
index rose more than it did in the prior month.  Partially offsetting these
accelerating prices, the index for gold ores declined 0.7 percent, compared
with a 2.6-percent gain in September.  Hides and skins prices also turned
down in October, after rising in the previous month.  The indexes for
pulpwood and construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone increased at a
slower pace than they did in the prior month.

     The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs inched down 0.1 percent
in October, following a 2.0-percent increase in the prior month.  Leading
this deceleration, corn prices dropped 10.7 percent, compared with a 9.7-
percent gain in September.  The indexes for wheat and alfalfa hay also
turned down in October, after moving up in the previous month.  Prices for
slaughter broilers and fryers and soybeans fell more than they did in
September.  The slaughter cattle index advanced at a slower rate than it
did a month earlier.  By contrast, slaughter hog prices jumped 24.4 percent
in October, following an 8.9-percent decline in the prior month.  The
indexes for fresh and dry vegetables, fresh fruits and melons, and
unprocessed shellfish also turned up, after moving down in September.
Prices for unprocessed finfish increased at a faster rate in October than
they did a month earlier.

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and services industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Domestic
Mining Industries rose 8.0 percent in October, after advancing 1.6 percent
in the previous month.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.)  Contributing most heavily to this acceleration, prices received
by the natural gas liquids and natural gas residue industry turned up 14.9
percent, following a 6.5-percent decrease in September.  The industry
indexes for bituminous coal and lignite surface mining and coal mining
services also turned up in October.  Prices for the crude petroleum and
natural gas industry increased at a faster pace in October than they did in
the prior month.  Partially offsetting the overall acceleration, prices
received by the oil and gas well drilling industry rose 0.3 percent in
October, following a 1.3-percent increase in the previous month.  The
industry indexes for gold ores and for metal mining services turned down in
October.  Industry prices for kaolin and ball clay fell 0.3 percent, after
posting no change in September.  In October 2002, the Producer Price Index
for Total Mining Industries was 102.7 (December 1984 = 100), 31.2 percent
above its year-ago level.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Domestic Manufacturing Industries moved up 1.0 percent in October, after
climbing 0.4 percent in the previous month.  Prices for the transportation
equipment industry group rose 3.2 percent in October, turning up from a 0.4-
percent decline in the preceding month.  Industry group prices for
petroleum refining and related products, chemicals and allied products, and
food and kindred products increased at a faster rate than they did in
September.  By contrast, the electrical and electronic machinery,
equipment, and supplies industry group index moved down 0.4 percent, after
falling 0.2 percent in September.  Industry group prices for paper and
allied products remained unchanged in October, following an increase in the
preceding month.  The industry group index for fabricated metal products
(except machinery and transportation equipment) turned down in October,
while industry group prices for printing, publishing, and allied industries
rose at a slower rate in October than they did in September.  In October
2002, the Producer Price Index for Total Manufacturing Industries was 135.6
(December 1984 = 100), 1.4 percent higher than a year ago.

                                    -6-

Services.  Among service industries in October, advancing prices were
posted by the industries for engineering design, analysis, and consulting
services; general medical and surgical hospitals; and deep sea foreign
transportation of freight.  On the other hand, the industries for telephone
communications (except radiotelephone), operators and lessors of
nonresidential buildings, and security brokers, dealers, and investment
banking companies registered falling prices in October.

                                   *****
                                     
            Producer Price Index data for November 2002 will be
         released on Friday, December 13, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).
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|                       |Oct. 2002 from:|                          
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |        
                                                 |          |June   |Sept.  |Oct.   |  Oct. | Sept. |July to|Aug.  to |Sept. to
                                                 |   2001 1/|2002 2/|2002 2/|2002 2/|  2001 | 2002  |  Aug. |   Sept. |  Oct.  
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   139.0   138.9   140.6     0.6    1.2      0        0.1     1.1   
  Finished consumer goods........................|   72.948   139.6   139.8   141.5     1.1    1.2      0         .1     1.4   
    Finished consumer foods......................|   20.964   139.8   138.4   139.1    -2.2     .5      -.4      -.6      .7   
      Crude......................................|    1.560   126.2   118.5   123.3      .8    4.1      -.2     -6.9     3.8   
      Processed..................................|   19.404   140.9   140.1   140.3    -2.4     .1      -.4      -.1      .6   
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.984   139.3   140.0   142.1     2.3    1.5       .2       .4     1.6   
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.355   140.6   142.5   143.9     3.4    1.0       .4       .5     1.9   
      Durable goods..............................|   16.628   132.8   131.1   134.5      .1    2.6      -.3       .1      .8   
  Capital equipment..............................|   27.052   139.0   138.1   139.7     -.2    1.2      -.1      0        .4   
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.924   139.8   139.5   139.9     -.4     .3      -.1      -.1      .1   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   19.128   138.6   137.5   139.5     -.1    1.5      -.1       .1      .4   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   127.7   129.4   129.7     1.6     .2       .4       .5      .7   
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   47.040   125.9   127.0   127.3     1.1     .2       .3       .2      .2   
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    2.902   122.1   123.9   124.3    -1.7     .3       .1       .7      .6   
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   14.124   128.8   131.7   132.8     3.4     .8      1.0       .8      .8   
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|    9.152   124.7   125.8   125.7     2.0    -.1       .3       .2     0     
    Components for manufacturing.................|   20.862   126.1   125.9   125.8     -.3    -.1      0        -.2     -.1   
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.085   151.5   152.3   151.8     1.0    -.3       .4       .1     -.3   
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   15.060    96.4   100.4   101.6     4.0    1.2       .6      2.1     3.9   
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    6.106    98.6   101.4   101.8      .4     .4       .3      2.1     2.2   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.954    95.1    99.7   101.6     6.5    1.9      1.0      1.9     5.1   
  Containers.....................................|    3.421   151.3   152.8   153.5      .7     .5       .2       .7      .5   
  Supplies.......................................|   21.395   138.7   139.7   139.6      .9    -.1       .2       .1     0     
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    4.721   144.7   145.0   145.1      .1     .1       .1       .1      .1   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   16.674   136.0   137.1   137.1     1.1    0         .2       .2     0     
      Feeds......................................|    1.082    96.3   103.9   101.6     4.0   -2.2      2.0      2.6    -2.2   
      Other supplies.............................|   15.593   140.8   141.3   141.5      .9     .1       .1       .1      .1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   105.7   108.5   111.6    14.3    2.9      1.6       .6     3.4   
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   46.173    96.8   100.7    99.7    -4.2   -1.0      2.0      2.0     -.1   
  Nonfood materials..............................|   53.827   109.2   111.1   117.4    31.0    5.7      1.2      -.3     6.0   
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   32.578    99.9   107.4   108.1    18.1     .7      1.8      1.9     1.2   
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   31.534    91.4    98.6    99.1    18.4     .5      1.9      2.0     1.2   
      Construction...............................|    1.044   182.4   182.2   182.8     1.2     .3       .4       .1      .5   
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   21.249   113.7   105.8   120.8    51.2   14.2       .2     -3.8    14.2   
      Manufacturing industries...................|    1.958   110.0   102.6   116.6    50.3   13.6       .1     -3.7    13.6   
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   19.291   116.0   107.9   123.4    51.4   14.4       .1     -3.8    14.4   
                                                 |                                                                             
               Special groupings                 |                                                                             
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 79.036   138.6   138.8   140.7     1.4    1.4       .1       .2     1.2   
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 96.017   128.4   130.0   130.4     1.7     .3       .3       .5      .8   
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  3.983   114.2   117.9   117.4     -.1    -.4       .6      1.2     -.2   
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 51.690   110.6   112.2   118.6    31.6    5.7      1.0      -.2     6.2   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.774    89.8    92.8    94.4     4.9    1.7      1.0       .9     4.2   
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.226   147.3   146.2   147.8     -.2    1.1      -.1      -.1      .5   
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 59.174   150.7   149.6   151.2     -.2    1.1      -.1      -.2      .6   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 65.262   150.2   149.3   151.2      .5    1.3      -.1       .1      .5   
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.210   157.8   156.9   159.0     1.0    1.3      -.1       .1      .6   
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.581   178.0   177.9   178.7     1.5     .4       .1       .1      .4   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 15.182    96.2   100.1   101.6     4.3    1.5       .6      2.5     4.1   
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 84.818   134.4   135.4   135.4      .9    0         .3       .1      .1   
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 80.835   135.7   136.6   136.6     1.0    0         .4       .1      .1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 32.341    97.8   100.0   108.9    44.4    8.9      1.6      -.1     8.9   
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 67.659   107.4   110.5   109.8      .5    -.6      1.4      1.1      .3   
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.486   138.6   139.6   139.4    10.8    -.1       .4      -.6      .9   
                                                 |                                                                             
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                               
  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 June 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 |                                                       |                       |Oct. 2002 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |June   |Sept.  |Oct.   | Oct.  | Sept. |July to|Aug. to|Sept.to  
           |                                                       |2002 1/|2002 1/|2002 1/| 2001  | 2002  |  Aug. |  Sept.|  Oct.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 139.0   138.9   140.6     0.6    1.2      0       0.1     1.1   
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 139.6   139.8   141.5     1.1    1.2      0        .1     1.4   
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 139.8   138.4   139.1    -2.2     .5      -.4     -.6      .7   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  90.6    90.3    93.8    -7.9    3.9      7.4     -.7     3.9   
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 131.9   115.0   119.9     8.2    4.3     -8.2    -9.4     4.3   
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  85.5    77.9    74.1    -3.8   -4.9     -1.0    -5.2    -8.8   
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 189.4   190.0   190.5      .8     .3       .1      .2      .3   
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................|  76.0    84.9    85.6     0       .8      1.3    10.4      .8   
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 121.4   121.5   121.5     -.6    0        0        .1     0     
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal 2/....................................| 115.7   112.2   109.3    -7.0   -2.6     -3.0     1.0    -2.6   
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 108.8    98.4   105.1   -14.8    6.8     -3.5    -5.4    11.5   
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 111.4   109.5   105.8   -14.0   -3.4     -3.2    -1.3    -1.2   
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................|  95.3    95.7    93.4    -8.3   -2.4      -.5    -3.3    -3.7   
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 184.3   190.8   204.7    12.8    7.3      -.9      .8     7.4   
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 135.7   133.9   136.6    -9.2    2.0      -.8    -1.7     2.3   
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 131.7   133.0   132.3     1.3    -.5      -.1     1.3     -.5   
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 176.8   174.5   174.6     1.0     .1      -.2    -1.3      .1   
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 151.0   151.3   150.4      .7    -.6      -.1      .5     -.5   
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 121.3   121.4   121.0    -2.2    -.3       .1     -.2     -.3   
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 138.7   146.5   148.0     9.8    1.0      2.3     1.9     1.0   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 139.3   140.0   142.1     2.3    1.5       .2      .4     1.6   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 147.0   146.7   148.8     1.8    1.4       .1      .4     1.3   
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 122.1   121.0   121.8    -1.2     .7       .2      .1      .7   
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel 2/..........................| 129.4   128.7   129.7    -1.7     .8       .3     0        .8   
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 118.8   118.8   119.9     2.7     .9      -.4     0        .9   
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.2   122.1   122.0     -.6    -.1      -.2      .2     -.1   
04-3       |   Footwear 2/.........................................| 146.0   145.9   146.2      .3     .2      -.1     -.1      .2   
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 119.0   119.5   116.0    -2.2   -2.9       .3      .1     -.3   
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 128.5   130.4   135.0      .3    3.5      0       1.1     3.0   
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  85.4    89.7    99.5    28.1   10.9      3.7    -1.5    17.9   
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  69.3    86.4    90.6    15.7    4.9     -1.4     8.5     4.9   
06-38      |   Pharmaceutical preparations (June 2001=100) 2/......| 102.6   103.1   104.1     4.4    1.0       .4      .1     1.0   
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 129.9   131.2   130.6     -.3    -.5      -.1     1.0     -.5   
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 139.7   139.3   139.3      .5    0        -.3     0       0     
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  95.5    95.3    95.3      .5    0         .1     -.1     0     
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 149.5   149.3   148.8     -.1    -.3       .7     -.1     -.3   
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 225.2   226.0   226.1     2.1    0        -.1     0       0     
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 209.8   212.6   212.2     5.9    -.2       .8      .6     -.3   
09-33      |   Book publishing.....................................| 234.9   237.1   237.0     5.1    0         .2     -.1     -.6   
12-1       |   Household furniture.................................| 157.3   157.3   157.8     1.5     .3       .1     0        .3   
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 130.4   131.5   131.3      .8    -.2      -.1      .5     -.2   
12-4       |   Household appliances ...............................| 104.3   104.2   104.1     -.7    -.1      0       0       -.1   
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  69.1    68.9    68.6    -2.0    -.4      -.1     -.1     -.4   
12-62      |   Household glassware.................................| 169.8   169.9   170.5      .4     .4       .4     0        .3   
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 145.0   145.3   145.2     1.4    -.1      0        .2     -.1   
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 134.1   134.1   133.8      .8    -.2      0       0       -.2   
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 128.9   125.2   134.2     2.1    7.2      -.1      .2     2.2   
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles 2/.............| 124.8   124.6   124.6      .6    0        0       -.2     0     
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 126.1   125.2   125.0    -1.1    -.2      -.3      .3     -.2   
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 466.4   466.8   466.9     4.3    0        0       0       0     
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 167.0   167.5   166.6      .3    -.5      0        .4     -.5   
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 130.1   129.9   130.0     0       .1      -.2     0        .1   
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 144.3   144.3   144.5      .3     .1      0       0        .1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 139.0   138.1   139.7     -.2    1.2      -.1     0        .4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 158.2   157.9   158.0      .4     .1       .1      .3      .1   
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 151.3   151.5   151.5     1.5    0        -.1     0       0     
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 151.7   154.1   153.9     -.3    -.1      1.6     0       -.1   
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 166.9   167.4   167.3     1.0    -.1       .2      .1     -.1   
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 140.1   140.8   140.5     -.5    -.2       .1     0       -.2   
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 160.9   161.9   161.7     2.0    -.1       .4      .2      .2   
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 136.3   137.0   136.9     -.1    -.1       .4     0       -.1   
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............|  43.9    40.7    40.0   -20.5   -1.7     -3.8     -.5    -1.7   
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 156.7   156.8   157.2     -.6     .3      0        .1      .3   
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 169.1   169.2   169.7     1.3     .3       .2     0        .4   
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 143.5   143.8   144.1      .8     .2      0       0        .2   
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 131.9   132.0   131.9    -1.6    -.1      -.1      .1     -.1   
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 107.7   107.1   107.0    -1.9    -.1      -.2     -.2     -.1   
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 101.2   101.3   100.9      .6    -.4      0       -.1     -.4   
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 135.8   136.0   136.0      .5    0         .2      .2     -.4   
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 151.9   152.1   152.1     2.0    0        0        .1     0     
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.7   112.1   112.3     -.5     .2      -.1      .1      .2   
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 160.2   160.4   160.7      .1     .2      0        .1      .2   
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 150.0   143.6   153.7    -3.0    7.0     -1.3     -.2     1.9   
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 152.2   153.7   153.7     3.6    0        -.2      .5     0     
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 138.2   137.8   138.0     -.6     .1       .5     -.5      .1   
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 170.4   172.5   173.3     1.7     .5       .5      .4      .5   
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 149.9   151.4   151.4     1.7    0         .7     0       0     
14-4       |   Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 135.4   134.7   134.2     -.3    -.4      -.3     -.5     -.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 127.7   129.4   129.7     1.6     .2       .4      .5      .7   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 114.2   117.9   117.4     -.1    -.4       .6     1.2     -.2   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 111.5   127.9   126.3    12.1   -1.3      4.7     6.8    -1.3   
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 117.6   118.8   119.0     7.1     .2      -.1     1.3      .2   
02-54      |   Confectionery materials 2/..........................| 115.0   124.0   125.1    17.2     .9     -2.1     4.5      .9   
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................|  82.4    98.4    97.9    37.5    -.5     10.7     5.2     -.5   
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 104.1   110.5   108.5     2.8   -1.8      1.5     1.9    -1.8   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 128.4   130.0   130.4     1.7     .3       .3      .5      .8   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 105.4   106.0   106.4     -.8     .4       .6     0        .4   
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 103.5   102.4   102.4    -1.0    0       -1.5     0       0     
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 112.9   112.2   112.4     -.5     .2      -.4     -.1      .2   
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 120.5   120.8   121.3    -1.1     .4       .2     -.2      .5   
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 133.0   134.6   134.0      .6    -.4       .7     -.4     -.4   
04-2       |   Leather 2/..........................................| 202.7   205.8   205.3     3.1    -.2      2.6     -.5     -.2   
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  97.2   122.7   124.1    36.7    1.1      4.5    18.4     1.1   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
See footnotes at end of table.                                                                                                       

Table 2.  Producer price indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing - Continued             
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)                                                                                                
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |                         
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted      
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:     
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Oct. 2002 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |June   |Sept.  |Oct.   | Oct.  | Sept. |July to|Aug. to|Sept.to  
           |                                                       |2002 1/|2002 1/|2002 1/| 2001  | 2002  |  Aug. |  Sept.|  Oct.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |                                                                 
           |   -Continued..........................................|                                                                 
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 142.8   143.1   136.4    -2.1   -4.7      0       0.2     0.6   
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 143.6   145.7   139.6    -2.9   -4.2      -.4      .9     -.9   
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 130.0   131.7   137.4     1.0    4.3       .8     1.9     3.8   
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 131.1   132.5   137.6     2.6    3.8       .3     3.0     2.7   
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  98.0   101.5   111.2    60.9    9.6      4.8     8.6     8.0   
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  67.8    80.4    87.8    27.6    9.2     -1.4     7.4     6.4   
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  73.3    91.9    99.0    30.4    7.7      3.0      .6    14.2   
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  77.0    85.1    92.5    34.8    8.7      2.5    13.2     8.7   
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 126.0   131.0   132.9     7.4    1.5      1.1      .2     1.5   
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 167.0   168.9   167.9     2.3    -.6       .7     1.4     -.5   
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 171.8   171.3   171.5    16.0     .1       .1     -.6      .1   
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 132.3   132.4   133.0    -5.1     .5      0       -.9      .5   
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible.............................|  89.6    99.8    95.4    18.4   -4.4     -1.9    -1.3    -6.9   
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 113.9   114.2   114.2     -.7    0         .4      .5      .6   
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 106.2   104.9   107.0    -4.3    2.0      3.1     -.7     1.4   
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................|  99.8   100.7   101.8     7.8    1.1      2.0      .7     1.1   
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 148.7   148.7   147.3     -.5    -.9      0       0       -.9   
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 130.1   136.6   136.1     6.1    -.4      3.1     1.1     -.4   
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 117.9   121.6   122.5     2.1     .7       .9     1.3      .7   
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 139.1   145.0   139.5     6.9   -3.8      1.4     3.4    -3.5   
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 138.2   136.7   138.2     1.8    1.1      1.6     -.8     1.1   
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 116.0   116.6   116.5     -.2    -.1       .1      .1     -.1   
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 170.2   166.5   166.8     1.1     .2     -1.1    -1.6      .2   
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 177.1   178.9   179.9      .6     .6       .6      .1      .5   
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 179.8   180.2   180.1     -.1    -.1       .3     -.1     -.1   
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 153.3   149.7   149.5    -1.4    -.1      1.2    -1.8     -.1   
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 115.3   119.4   119.4     5.9    0        1.9      .7     0     
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 143.7   144.7   145.8    -1.8     .8       .5      .4      .8   
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 161.1   167.9   167.6      .3    -.2      3.1     -.2     -.2   
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 171.9   173.3   174.3     -.2     .6       .1      .8      .6   
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 127.7   131.4   131.3     3.6    -.1      1.2     -.8     -.1   
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 157.4   157.1   157.5      .1     .3      -.4      .4      .3   
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 136.8   137.1   137.2      .3     .1       .2      .2     0     
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 104.5   109.1   109.4     9.4     .3      1.8     1.1      .3   
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 103.6    97.9    97.2     -.9    -.7     -4.4     -.9     -.7   
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 142.2   142.4   143.1    -1.9     .5       .4     -.2      .5   
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 154.2   152.2   146.9    -1.5   -3.5     -3.1      .9    -3.5   
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 134.1   132.7   132.8    -3.7     .1     -1.0     -.3      .1   
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 107.2   107.7   108.2     2.0     .5       .1      .5      .5   
10-4       |   Hardware 2/.........................................| 155.9   156.3   155.7      .1    -.4      -.1     0       -.4   
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 182.0   182.6   182.6     1.1    0         .5      .3      .1   
10-6       |   Heating equipment 2/................................| 157.8   157.9   157.9      .5    0         .3     -.2     0     
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 145.1   145.9   145.5      .8    -.3       .1     0       -.1   
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 129.9   130.4   129.8      .3    -.5       .2      .1     -.5   
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 126.6   127.0   126.9     -.1    -.1      0       0       -.1   
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 169.5   169.2   169.9     1.6     .4       .1     -.1      .5   
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment 2/.....| 136.9   137.6   137.1      .8    -.4       .1     0       -.4   
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 166.9   167.7   168.2     1.8     .3      -.1      .2      .3   
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 169.6   169.8   170.4      .6     .4       .1     -.1      .4   
11-71      |   Wiring devices 2/...................................| 154.7   155.5   153.8      .3   -1.1      -.1      .1    -1.1   
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 146.7   146.6   146.4     0      -.1       .1     0       0     
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 158.9   158.2   159.0      .8     .5       .6      .1      .4   
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  92.5    92.5    92.3     -.1    -.2      0       -.4     -.2   
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 144.1   145.2   145.2      .8    0         .2      .8     0     
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 139.9   139.8   140.0     -.3     .1      -.1     0        .1   
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 111.3   111.6   111.5     -.5    -.1       .4     -.3     -.1   
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 153.4   152.6   153.0     1.4     .3      1.5      .1      .2   
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 152.8   152.8   152.9      .1     .1       .1      .1      .1   
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings..........................| 111.8   111.3   111.7     1.3     .4      1.2    -1.8      .7   
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 173.2   169.8   172.5     6.8    1.6      1.4     -.2     1.6   
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 136.1   135.9   137.1     3.0     .9       .1      .3      .9   
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 113.1   111.8   111.8    -1.2    0        -.2     -.7     0     
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 145.7   145.8   145.8      .3    0        -.3      .2     -.3   
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100).....| 151.0   150.1   149.7    -1.2    -.3       .3      .1     -.1   
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/............| 150.8   151.5   151.4     1.5    -.1       .2      .4     -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 105.7   108.5   111.6    14.3    2.9      1.6      .6     3.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................|  96.8   100.7    99.7    -4.2   -1.0      2.0     2.0     -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................|  85.6   126.3   124.6    50.5   -1.3     11.4    19.0    -1.3   
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................|  80.1   111.9    99.5    31.3  -11.1     17.5     9.7   -10.7   
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................|  96.6    96.5    97.0    -4.7     .5      1.2     1.4      .5   
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  57.4    44.5    53.0   -23.6   19.1    -15.0    -8.9    24.4   
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 136.7   128.9   116.1   -19.3   -9.9      -.9    -2.3    -5.6   
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 105.9   108.2   104.4   -14.3   -3.5     -3.0    -6.0    -7.1   
01-6       |   Fluid milk 2/.......................................|  87.4    86.6    88.9   -24.3    2.7       .8     2.6     2.7   
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................|  86.2    99.5    92.6    23.0   -6.9      2.7     -.9    -6.9   
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 105.8   115.4   116.0     4.9     .5       .4     4.6      .5   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 109.2   111.1   117.4    31.0    5.7      1.2     -.3     6.0   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton 2/.......................................|  57.2    63.7    65.1    37.1    2.2      -.3    -3.5     2.2   
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................|   (3)   106.1   108.8    -2.9    2.5      (3)    -1.7     2.5   
04-19      |   Hides and skins (June 2001=100) 2/..................|  82.4    87.6    87.4    20.4    -.2      3.0     4.7     -.2   
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  99.7    98.0    98.9     1.7     .9      -.8     -.4      .9   
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................| 117.7   107.8   127.7    75.2   18.5       .4    -4.8    18.5   
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  63.6    76.2    77.5    36.2    1.7      4.3     5.8     1.7   
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 180.9   180.1   181.0      .7     .5       .7      .2      .8   
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 188.9   191.0   190.3    34.1    -.4       .8    -8.1     -.4   
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  95.3    95.0    95.0    -1.3    0         .3     -.1     0     
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap................................| 150.6   154.5   152.7    28.9   -1.2       .2      .7     2.4   
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  71.8    69.7    67.8     8.8   -2.7      -.9     1.2    -2.7   
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 113.1   107.3   109.3     2.6    1.9     -3.6    -1.7     1.9   
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 163.3   155.0   155.7     7.2     .5     -3.0    -1.3     2.3   
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 173.3   173.6   173.4     2.2    -.1       .1      .3      .2   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                                                     
1/  The indexes for June 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                    | June 2002 |Sept. 2002 | Oct. 2002 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   390.2   |   389.9   |   394.5   |
         | All commodities................................|   130.9   |   132.0   |   133.1   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   122.6   |   124.0   |   124.0   |
01       |   Farm products................................|    96.2   |    99.7   |    98.8   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   135.6   |   136.1   |   136.5   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   132.4   |   133.4   |   134.7   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   119.9   |   119.7   |   120.0   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   158.0   |   160.5   |   160.4   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power.........|    92.9   |    96.4   |    99.3   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   151.3   |   154.3   |   155.2   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   127.1   |   127.8   |   127.9   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   173.3   |   172.3   |   172.4   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   185.6   |   187.1   |   187.4   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   126.4   |   127.1   |   126.9   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   122.9   |   122.7   |   122.6   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   133.4   |   133.5   |   133.6   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   146.5   |   146.6   |   146.7   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   144.4   |   142.2   |   146.0   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   183.0   |   183.2   |   183.2   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   143.0   |   143.2   |   143.9   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   113.4   |   106.1   |   110.8   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|    81.5   |   114.1   |   105.8   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    86.6   |    83.1   |    85.8   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   128.8   |   123.1   |   112.3   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|    58.2   |    64.7   |    66.1   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   102.7   |    89.0   |    87.9   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   113.4   |   125.2   |   119.0   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|    96.9   |   110.2   |   103.4   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   (3)     |   158.2   |   162.2   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   163.1   |   166.3   |   167.0   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   119.1   |   116.1   |   116.4   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   112.1   |   111.0   |   108.8   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   141.9   |   143.4   |   143.8   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   147.9   |   147.9   |   148.4   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   125.0   |   125.2   |   124.9   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   113.2   |   126.0   |   128.4   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.5   |   124.8   |   125.5   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   147.4   |   147.9   |   148.1   |
05-3     | Gas fuels......................................|   111.0   |   109.3   |   124.7   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   141.2   |   142.1   |   136.8   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    79.6   |    87.7   |    95.7   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   265.4   |   265.9   |   267.9   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   123.9   |   123.9   |   124.2   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   139.5   |   139.9   |   140.0   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   116.6   |   117.2   |   117.5   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   117.3   |   121.0   |   121.9   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   140.0   |   140.1   |   140.5   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   135.2   |   136.0   |   135.9   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   169.8   |   168.1   |   168.6   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   154.8   |   156.7   |   157.1   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   163.2   |   164.3   |   164.6   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   114.7   |   118.4   |   118.3   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   121.7   |   119.3   |   118.8   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   136.9   |   136.4   |   136.0   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   150.1   |   150.4   |   150.4   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   154.0   |   154.7   |   154.6   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   165.4   |   164.7   |   165.0   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   116.4   |   116.2   |   116.0   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   136.3   |   136.6   |   136.7   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   158.2   |   158.7   |   158.7   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   163.0   |   163.0   |   162.9   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   129.7   |   126.7   |   131.6   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   133.7   |   133.1   |   133.0   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   105.5   |   105.5   |   105.5   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   139.3   |   140.0   |   140.0   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
                                                                                               
1/  Data for June 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.                                  
3/  Not available.


Table 4.  Producer price indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted             
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change  
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Oct._2002_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |         
                  |                                              |     |June   |Sep.   |Oct.   |  Oct.  |  Sep.   
                  |                                              |     |2002 2/|2002 2/|2002 2/|  2001  |  2002   
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  93.5    95.1   102.7     31.2      8.0  
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  76.9    74.1    72.5      3.9     -2.2  
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  93.7    93.6    94.0      1.2       .4  
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 101.7   104.5   116.5     47.3     11.5  
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |                                          
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 143.7   143.4   143.5      1.2       .1  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 133.6   134.2   135.6      1.4      1.0  
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 131.3   131.4   131.6     -1.9       .2  
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 408.2   408.5   408.5      4.4    0      
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 115.8   115.7   115.6      -.8      -.1  
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |                                          
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 125.2   125.4   126.0       .1       .5  
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 155.3   155.1   154.8       .1      -.2  
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 146.1   146.3   146.7       .8       .3  
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 142.8   144.6   144.6      -.3    0      
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 192.9   193.6   193.8      2.3       .1  
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 157.0   158.7   159.5      2.4       .5  
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  98.9   108.7   117.6     24.3      8.2  
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 125.8   126.3   126.3       .6    0      
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 140.9   141.6   141.7       .4       .1  
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 137.2   137.4   137.5       .7       .1  
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 116.3   117.8   117.6      2.6      -.2  
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |                                          
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 131.6   132.2   132.1       .8      -.1  
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 117.4   116.8   116.7     -1.0      -.1  
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |                                          
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 105.8   105.5   105.1     -1.2      -.4  
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 137.0   134.9   139.2       .5      3.2  
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |                                          
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |                                          
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 128.3   128.5   128.7       .9       .2  
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 133.3   133.4   133.4       .5    0      
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Services industries                           |     |                                          
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 106.6   106.7   107.0      1.1      0.3  
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 124.3   125.0   125.4      1.5       .3  
       43         | United States Postal Service................ |06/89| 145.4   155.0   155.0      6.6    0      
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 134.0   135.2   138.4      3.7      2.4  
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 156.8   159.0   159.6       .4       .4  
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86| 111.5   112.5   112.7       .8       .2  
       48         | Communications.............................. |06/01|  97.9    97.9    96.9     -1.6     -1.0  
       54         | Food stores................................. |12/99| 112.7   115.6   115.5       .2      -.1  
       55         | Automotive dealers and gasoline service      |     |                                          
                  |  stations................................... |12/01|  98.2    90.9    90.7     (3)       -.2  
       59         | Miscellaneous retail........................ |06/00| 102.4   103.1   102.4      2.3      -.7  
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 118.6   119.7   120.3      2.6       .5  
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 121.5   122.0   122.4      3.2       .3  
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 June 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                                |        |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |  May   |  June  |  July  |  Aug.  |  Sep.  |  Oct.
                                                       |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  |  2002  
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods...................................|  138.5    138.7    138.5    138.5    138.6    140.1
        Finished consumer goods........................|  138.8    139.0    139.0    139.0    139.1    141.0
          Finished consumer foods......................|  139.2    139.5    139.3    138.8    137.9    138.9
            Crude......................................|  124.4    127.2    126.9    126.7    117.9    122.4
            Processed..................................|  140.4    140.5    140.3    139.7    139.5    140.3
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  138.3    138.5    138.5    138.8    139.3    141.5
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  139.0    139.2    139.5    140.1    140.8    143.5
            Durable goods..............................|  133.2    133.5    132.7    132.3    132.4    133.4
        Capital equipment..............................|  139.1    139.3    138.9    138.7    138.7    139.2
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  139.9    139.9    139.9    139.7    139.6    139.8
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  138.8    139.0    138.4    138.2    138.3    138.9
                                                       |
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  127.2    127.4    127.8    128.3    128.9    129.8
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  125.5    125.9    126.3    126.7    127.0    127.3
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  121.1    121.8    122.4    122.5    123.4    124.2
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  128.0    128.7    129.5    130.8    131.8    132.9
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  124.0    124.7    125.2    125.6    125.8    125.8
          Components for manufacturing.................|  126.2    126.2    126.2    126.2    125.9    125.8
        Materials and components for construction......|  151.2    151.4    151.5    152.1    152.3    151.9
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   95.4     95.3     95.6     96.2     98.2    102.0
          Manufacturing industries ....................|   97.9     98.0     98.1     98.4    100.5    102.7
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   93.8     93.6     94.0     94.9     96.7    101.6
        Containers.....................................|  151.0    151.3    151.4    151.7    152.8    153.5
        Supplies.......................................|  138.4    138.7    139.1    139.4    139.6    139.6
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  144.7    144.7    144.6    144.8    145.0    145.1
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  135.6    136.0    136.5    136.8    137.1    137.1
            Feeds......................................|   94.0     96.3     99.3    101.3    103.9    101.6
            Other supplies.............................|  140.6    140.8    141.1    141.2    141.3    141.5
                                                       |
      Crude materials for further processing...........|  108.9    104.9    106.2    107.9    108.6    112.3
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   96.2     95.3     97.0     98.9    100.9    100.8
        Nonfood materials..............................|  115.4    109.0    110.0    111.3    111.0    117.7
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|  105.5     99.5    103.4    105.3    107.3    108.6
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   96.7     91.1     94.7     96.5     98.4     99.6
            Construction...............................|  181.3    181.5    182.0    182.8    182.9    183.9
          Crude fuel 3/................................|  120.1    113.7    109.8    110.0    105.8    120.8
            Manufacturing industries...................|  116.1    110.0    106.4    106.5    102.6    116.6
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|  122.7    116.0    112.1    112.2    107.9    123.4
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  138.1    138.2    138.1    138.2    138.5    140.2
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  128.0    128.2    128.5    128.9    129.5    130.5
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  112.7    114.0    115.4    116.1    117.5    117.3
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|  117.2    110.4    111.2    112.3    112.1    119.0
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   87.7     87.6     88.3     89.2     90.0     93.8
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  147.1    147.4    147.0    146.8    146.6    147.4
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  150.5    150.9    150.4    150.2    149.9    150.8
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  150.3    150.5    150.1    149.9    150.0    150.7
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  157.8    158.1    157.6    157.5    157.6    158.5
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  177.6    178.0    177.7    177.9    178.0    178.7
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|   95.1     95.1     95.0     95.6     98.0    102.0
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  134.0    134.3    134.8    135.2    135.4    135.5
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  135.4    135.6    136.0    136.5    136.6    136.7
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|  108.3     97.8     98.5    100.1    100.0    108.9
      Crude materials less energy......................|  105.8    106.2    107.9    109.4    110.6    110.9
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  134.1    137.8    139.6    140.1    139.3    140.6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  All seasonally adjusted indexes are subject to change up to 5 years after original publication due to
      the recalculation of seasonal factors each January.  The indexes for June 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.