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http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   MAY 13, 1999
                                     
                                     
                   Producer Price Indexes -- April 1999

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods advanced 0.5 percent in
April, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This rise follows a 0.2-percent
increase in March and a 0.4-percent decline in February.  Excluding the
influence of the 29.1-percent rise in gasoline prices, the finished goods
index declined 0.1 percent in April.  The index for finished goods other
than foods and energy increased 0.1 percent, after showing no change a
month earlier.  Prices received by producers of intermediate goods advanced
0.6 percent, after increasing 0.3 percent in the previous month.  The crude
goods index gained 1.3 percent, following a 1.0-percent rise in March.
(See table A.)

Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-
processing price indexes, seasonally adjusted
                     Finish                                  
                         ed
                      goods
                                                             
                                     Change in            
                            Except   finished   Inter-    
                                       goods
                             foods    from 12   mediateCrude
                              and     months
Month  Total  Foods  Energy energy      ago      goods goods
                                     (unadj.)
 1998                                                        
 Apr.     0.2    0.4   -0.4     0.1        -0.9    0.0    1.3
 May     -0.1   -0.5    0.4     0.1        -0.8   -0.1   -0.6
 June    -0.2   -0.1   -0.8    -0.1        -0.7   -0.3   -2.7
 July     0.2    0.5   -0.1     0.2        -0.2      0    0.1
 Aug.    -0.3   -0.3   -1.9       0        -0.8   -0.3   -4.2
Sept.     0.2    0.2   -0.4     0.3        -0.9   -0.3   -1.8
 Oct.     0.3    0.4    0.8     0.1        -0.7   -0.2    2.5
 Nov.    -0.2   -0.4   -1.3     0.1        -0.6   -0.2   -0.1
 Dec.    r0.5     r0  r-1.8     1.0          r0  r-0.7  r-3.6
                                                             
 1999                                                        
 Jan.    r0.4   r1.5   r1.4    -0.1         0.9   r0.2   r1.4
 Feb.    -0.4   -1.4   -1.0       0         0.5   -0.5   -3.4
 Mar.     0.2    0.4    1.2       0         0.8    0.3    1.0
 Apr.     0.5   -0.9    5.1     0.1         1.1    0.6    1.3
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for December 1998
have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and
corrections by respondents.

                                    -2-

     Among finished goods in April, the index for finished energy goods
rose more than in the previous month.  By contrast, prices for finished
consumer foods declined, following an increase in March.  The index for
finished consumer goods other than foods and energy showed no change, after
edging up a month ago.  Capital equipment prices showed no change for the
second consecutive month.

     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods increased 0.5 percent in April to stand at 131.8 (1982=100).  From
April 1998 through April 1999, the index for finished goods advanced 1.1
percent.  During the same period, prices for finished goods other than
foods and energy increased 1.7 percent, the index for finished energy goods
rose 1.5 percent, and prices for finished consumer foods declined 0.4
percent.  Prices received by producers of intermediate goods declined 1.4
percent for the 12 months ended in April, and the index for crude goods
dropped 9.9 percent during the same period.

Finished goods

     Prices for finished energy goods advanced 5.1 percent in April, after
registering a 1.2-percent gain in March.  The April increase for finished
energy goods represents the largest monthly increase since a 7.5-percent
rise in October 1990.  The main cause of this month's acceleration in
energy prices was the record 29.1-percent advance in gasoline prices,
following a more modest 3.6-percent rise last month.  The index for home
heating oil also rose more than in the prior month.  Prices for residential
natural gas fell less than a month earlier.  By contrast, the finished
lubricants index declined 4.6 percent in April, after a 9.7-percent advance
in March.  Residential electric power prices decreased, following an
increase a month ago.

Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for
intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted
              Interm                           Crude           
              ediate                           goods
              goods
                            Change in                             
                            intermedi                        Change in
                               ate
                     Exclud   goods                  Excludicrude goods
                      ing      from                    ng       from
                     foods  12 months         Energy  foods  12 months
                      and      ago                     and      ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy  (unadj.)   Foods (unadj energy   (unadj.)
                                                .)
 1998                                                                   
 Apr.    -0.9    0.2    0.0       -1.6    0.3    4.5   -1.2     -7.0
 May      0.3    0.2   -0.1       -1.5   -1.5      0    0.1     -9.0
 June    -0.6   -1.1   -0.1       -1.8    0.4   -8.0   -0.4     -8.9
 July     0.4      0   -0.1       -1.6   -3.4    6.0   -1.5     -8.4
 Aug.    -0.4   -1.5   -0.1       -2.1   -1.1   -9.0   -2.8    -12.3
 Sept    -0.9   -0.5   -0.3       -2.5   -0.9   -3.6   -1.2    -15.1
 Oct.    -0.4    1.0   -0.3       -2.5    3.2    5.5   -3.0    -16.6
 Nov.     0.8   -1.1   -0.2       -2.9   -0.6    2.0   -2.2    -18.4
 Dec.   r-0.6  r-3.5  r-0.2      r-3.3  r-4.3  r-4.0  r-1.7    r-16.7
                                                                  
 1999                                                             
 Jan.    r0.8   r2.1  r-0.1       -2.4   r5.3  r-2.8   r0.1    -10.6
 Feb.    -2.0   -1.7   -0.2       -2.7   -2.8   -7.4    1.1    -12.2
 Mar.    -1.6    2.2    0.1       -2.0   -1.3    6.1   -0.8    -10.0
 Apr.    -1.8    4.5    0.2       -1.4   -2.5    8.5   -1.1     -9.9
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for December 1998
have been revised to reflect the availability oflate reports and corrections
by respondents.

                                    -3-

     The finished consumer foods index declined 0.9 percent in April, after
posting a 0.4-percent gain in March.  Dairy product prices decreased 7.1
percent, following a 1.4-percent drop in the previous month.  The indexes
for finfish and shellfish, eggs for fresh use, and pork fell, after rising
a month earlier.  Fresh and dry vegetable prices rose less than in the
prior month.  The index for processed young chickens fell more than last
month.  On the other hand, prices for fresh fruits and melons advanced 0.9
percent, following a 5.5-percent decline in March.  The bakery products
index also rose, after falling a month ago.

     The index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy
showed no change in April, after registering a 0.1-percent gain a month
earlier.  Advancing prices for passenger cars, light motor trucks,
passenger car radial tires, women's apparel, and prescription drugs were
offset by declining prices for toilet tissue and stock; soft surface floor
coverings; cosmetics and other toilet preparations; girls', children's, and
infants' apparel; and men's footwear, excluding athletic.

     The capital equipment index showed no change for the past two months.
In April, price increases for light motor trucks, construction machinery
and equipment, agricultural machinery and equipment, truck trailers, and
for pumps, compressors, and equipment were counteracted by price declines
for electronic computers, civilian aircraft, line transmission equipment,
nonwood furniture and store fixtures, and x-ray and electromedical
equipment.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components rose 0.6 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, after
registering a 0.3-percent increase in March.  The April increase was the
largest one-month rise since a 0.6-increase was posted for April 1995.  The
main cause for the acceleration in intermediate goods prices was faster
price increases for intermediate energy goods.  By contrast, price
increases for construction materials and components slowed from March's
rate.  The index for intermediate foods and feeds fell more than a month
ago.  The nondurable manufacturing materials index advanced 0.2 percent for
the second consecutive month.  Prices for durable manufacturing materials
declined 0.2 percent, the same as in the previous month.  Excluding foods
and energy, the index for intermediate materials rose 0.2 percent,
following a 0.1-percent rise in the previous month.  (See table B.)
     
     The intermediate energy goods index advanced 4.5 percent, after
posting a 2.2-percent increase in March.  The last larger one-month
increase in intermediate energy goods was a 7.5-percent gain in October
1990.  In April, a 29.1-percent jump in gasoline prices, following a 3.6-
percent rise in March, led the acceleration in intermediate energy prices.
The indexes for jet fuels and diesel fuel also rose more than in the
previous month.  On the other hand, the commercial electric power index
turned down 1.5 percent, following  a 0.4-percent gain a month ago.  Prices
for finished lubricants also fell, after rising in March.  The industrial
electric power index fell more than in the prior month.  Prices for
residual fuels rose less than in the previous month.
     
     Prices for materials and components for construction increased 0.1
percent in April, after a 0.3-percent rise in the prior month.  This makes
the fourth consecutive monthly increase in the index for construction
materials.  In April, rising prices for millwork, concrete products,
plastic construction products, asphalt felts and coatings, prepared paint
and major appliances slightly outweighed falling prices for plywood,
nonferrous wire and cable, softwood lumber, and for hot rolled bars,
plates, and structural shapes.
     
                                    -4-
     
     The index for intermediate foods and feeds declined 1.8 percent,
following a 1.6-percent decrease in March.  Fluid milk prices dropped 14.6
percent, after a 1.1-percent decline in the prior month.  The index for
young chickens also fell more than in April.  Prices for boxed beef and
pork turned down, following an increase in the prior month.  The index for
refined sugar showed no change, after advancing a month ago.  By contrast,
prices for prepared animal feeds turned up 0.3 percent, after falling 2.8
percent in the prior month.  The indexes for natural, processed, and
imitation cheese and for crude vegetable oils also rose after declining in
March.
     
     The index for nondurable manufacturing materials increased 0.2
percent, following a 0.2-percent gain in March.  Rising prices for
paperboard, thermoplastic resins, primary organic chemicals, writing and
printing papers, embroideries and lace goods, and fertilizer materials
outweighed falling prices for basic inorganic chemicals, gray fabrics,
newsprint, broadwoven finished fabrics, and stemmed and redried tobacco.
     
     The durable manufacturing materials index decreased 0.2 percent in
April, after posting a 0.2-percent decline in March.  Falling prices for
steel mill products, softwood plywood, cement, nonferrous wire and cable,
nonferrous mill shapes, and flat glass more than offset rising prices for
plastic resins and materials, building paper and board, and prepared paint.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
advanced 1.3 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, following a 1.0-percent
increase in March.  Prices for crude energy materials also rose more than
in the previous month.  By contrast, the indexes for crude foodstuffs and
feedstuffs and basic industrial materials fell more than a month ago.  (See
table B.)
     
     The index for crude energy materials rose 8.5 percent in April, after
advancing 6.1 percent in March.  This acceleration was led by an upturn in
natural gas prices which rose 1.7 percent, following a 1.7-percent decline
in the prior month.  The crude petroleum index continued upward at 27.3
percent, after advancing 27.1 percent in the previous month.  Crude
petroleum prices rose 11.3 percent for the twelve months ended in April
1999.  The coal index somewhat offset the acceleration for crude energy
materials by rising less than in March.
     
     Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs dropped 2.5 percent in
April, following a 1.3-percent loss in March.  The index for bulk fluid
milk also fell at a faster rate than last month.  Slaughter cattle prices
turned down 1.0 percent, after rising 4.6 percent in the prior month.
Prices for unprocessed finfish and slaughter turkeys turned down, following
increases in the previous month.  The Irish potatoes for processing index
showed no change, after advancing a month ago.  On the other hand, corn
prices fell 0.9 percent in April, following a 7.2-percent decrease in
March.  April prices for wheat and for slaughter broilers and fryers also
declined less than a month ago.  The indexes for soybeans and slaughter
hogs turned up, after falling in the previous month.
     
      The index for basic industrial materials decreased 1.1 percent in
April, following a 0.8-percent fall in March.  This faster rate of decline
was led by a downturn in prices for leaf tobacco, which dropped 16.4-
percent in April following a 1.8-percent gain last month.  Prices for raw
cotton, gold ores, softwood logs, and wastepaper also turned down, after
rising in the prior month.  The copper base scrap index rose less than a
month ago.  On the other hand, iron and steel scrap prices increased 0.3
percent in April, following a 4.4-percent drop in March.  The indexes for
aluminum base scrap and cattle hides also turned up, after declining in the
previous month.  Prices for copper ores fell less than in March.

                                    -5-

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic
mining industries advanced 5.3 percent in April, following a 4.0-percent
increase in March.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.)
Price increases for the crude petroleum and natural gas industries
accelerated from 6.7 percent in March to 9.2 percent in April.  By
contrast, prices for the coal mining and nonmetallic minerals mining
industry groups slowed from March to April.  The index for the metal mining
industry group fell more than in the previous month.  In April, the
Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic mining industries
stood at 68.0 (December 1984=100), 8.2 percent below its year-ago level.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total
domestic manufacturing industries advanced 1.0 percent in April, after
increasing 0.2 percent in March.  Most of this acceleration was due to the
index for the petroleum refining industry group which jumped 23.6 percent,
after rising 5.7 percent in the prior month.  Among other manufacturing
industries in April, the largest increases were for rubber products and
paper products.  However, prices declined 1.0 percent for food and kindred
products.  In April, the Producer Price Index for the net output of the
total domestic manufacturing industries stood at 127.4 (December 1984=100),
1.0 percent higher than its year-ago level.

Other.  Among other industries in March, increases were registered for real
estate agents and managers, passenger car rental (without drivers),
scheduled air transportation, hotels and motels, and radio broadcasting.
By contrast, price declines occurred for life insurance carriers, truck
rental and leasing (without drivers), and deep sea foreign transportation
of freight.

     
                                   *****
              Producer Price Index data for May 1999 will be
          released on Friday, June 11, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T.)
                                   *****
Information in this news release will be made available to sensory impaired
 individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-7828; TDD phone: 202-606-
             5897; TDD Message Referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.

Table 1.  Producer price indexes and percent changes by stage of processing
(1982=100)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                 |          |                       |Unadjusted     |
                                                 |          |                       |  percent      |Seasonally adjusted
                                                 | Relative |    Unadjusted index   |change to      |percent change from:
                    Grouping                     |importance|                       |Apr. 1999 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |           Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   |  Apr. | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb.  to |Mar.  to
                                                 |   1998 1/|1998 2/|1999 2/|1999 2/|  1998 | 1999  |  Feb. |   Mar.  |  Apr.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   131.1   131.2   131.8     1.1    0.5     -0.4      0.2     0.5
  Finished consumer goods........................|   74.764   129.4   129.6   130.4     1.5     .6      -.6       .3      .6
    Finished consumer foods......................|   23.289   134.5   134.6   133.2     -.4   -1.0     -1.4       .4     -.9
      Crude......................................|    1.693   129.3   130.8   127.8    -3.4   -2.3     -9.0      5.8    -2.5
      Processed..................................|   21.596   134.9   134.9   133.6     -.2   -1.0      -.8      0       -.7
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.475   127.1   127.3   129.1     2.5    1.4      -.3       .3     1.3
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.162   122.7   123.2   125.9     3.6    2.2      -.3       .5     1.8
      Durable goods..............................|   16.313   133.8   133.1   132.9     -.1    -.2      -.1      -.2      .1
  Capital equipment..............................|   25.236   137.9   137.8   137.7     0      -.1       .1      0       0
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.615   138.1   138.5   138.5      .5    0         .1       .1     0
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   18.621   137.7   137.5   137.3     -.2    -.1       .1      0       0
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   120.9   120.8   121.6    -1.4     .7      -.5       .3      .6
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   47.742   124.1   123.5   123.3    -2.8    -.2      -.6      0       -.2
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.626   124.0   121.1   117.8    -3.2   -2.7     -2.0     -1.0    -2.5
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   15.762   123.3   122.7   122.9    -4.1     .2      -.8       .2      .2
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.444   124.2   123.4   123.2    -5.2    -.2      -.5      -.2     -.2
    Components for manufacturing.................|   17.910   125.8   125.7   125.7     -.2    0        -.1      0        .1
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.989   146.6   147.7   147.9      .6     .1       .2       .3      .1
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   11.868    75.8    76.7    80.5      .5    5.0     -1.4      2.2     4.4
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    4.597    81.8    81.8    83.9    -1.2    2.6     -1.9      1.6     2.3
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    7.271    72.1    73.5    78.4     1.6    6.7     -1.2      2.7     5.8
  Containers.....................................|    3.880   138.7   138.0   140.3     -.5    1.7      -.6       .2     1.7
  Supplies.......................................|   22.521   134.3   133.7   133.9     -.9     .1      -.2      -.1      .2
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    5.122   140.7   140.3   140.5     -.1     .1      -.1       .1      .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.399   131.6   130.9   131.1    -1.1     .2      -.3      -.2      .2
      Feeds......................................|    1.231    93.2    87.8    88.1   -13.4     .3     -2.2     -3.5      .3
      Other supplies.............................|   16.168   136.2   136.1   136.3     0       .1      -.1       .1      .1
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000    89.8    89.5    90.4    -9.9    1.0     -3.4      1.0     1.3
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   45.600    97.0    98.9    95.8    -9.5   -3.1     -2.8     -1.3    -2.5
  Nonfood materials..............................|   54.400    81.6    79.8    83.5   -10.1    4.6     -4.0      3.1     4.5
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   29.494    72.4    77.8    83.3    -5.8    7.1     -2.8      5.6     7.0
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   27.957    65.3    70.4    75.6    -5.9    7.4     -2.9      6.0     7.3
      Construction...............................|    1.537   188.4   194.3   194.0    -4.7    -.2       .2       .5     -.6
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   24.906    87.7    76.2    77.1   -16.0    1.2     -5.3      -.1     1.2
      Manufacturing industries...................|    2.071    84.2    74.3    75.5   -15.9    1.6     -3.6      -.5     1.6
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   22.835    89.6    77.7    78.7   -15.9    1.3     -5.6      -.1     1.3
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.711   130.0   130.1   131.3     1.6     .9      -.2       .2      .8
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.143   121.3   121.3   122.3    -1.2     .8      -.4       .3      .7
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.857   114.5   110.9   108.7    -6.0   -2.0     -2.0     -1.6    -1.8
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 51.467    80.6    78.8    82.9   -10.4    5.2     -4.0      3.3     5.3
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 11.936    70.8    71.4    75.8     1.5    6.2     -1.0      1.2     5.1
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 88.064   142.9   142.8   142.4     1.1    -.3      -.3       .1     -.2
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 62.828   144.9   144.8   144.2     1.5    -.4      -.5       .1     -.3
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 64.775   146.1   146.0   145.9     1.7    -.1      0        0        .1
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 39.539   151.6   151.4   151.3     2.7    -.1      -.1       .1     0
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 23.226   165.4   165.7   165.8     4.8     .1      -.1       .1      .1
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 11.960    75.5    76.4    80.2      .4    5.0     -1.7      2.2     4.5
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 88.040   131.1   130.7   130.7    -1.7    0        -.3      0        .1
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 83.183   132.1   132.0   132.2    -1.4     .2      -.2       .1      .2
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 32.487    64.2    61.3    66.5    -8.5    8.5     -7.4      6.1     8.5
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 67.514   104.9   106.7   104.1   -10.6   -2.4     -1.5     -1.1    -2.1
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.913   128.1   130.0   128.9   -12.7    -.8      1.1      -.8    -1.1
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          3/  Includes crude petroleum.
      after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            4/  Excludes crude petroleum.
      after final December indexes are available.  The first-published          5/  Percent of total finished goods.
      and final December relative importances initially appear,                 6/  Percent of total intermediate materials.
      respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data.      7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for
  2/  The indexes for December 1998 have been recalculated to incorporate           further processing, excluding crude
      late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and
      are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.                  animal fibers, oilseeds, and leaf tobacco."
                                                                                8/  Percent of total crude materials.
Table 2.  Producer price indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Apr. 1999 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   | Apr.  | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb. to|Mar. to
           |                                                       |1998 1/|1999 1/|1999 1/| 1998  | 1999  |  Feb. |  Mar. |  Apr.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 131.1   131.2   131.8     1.1    0.5     -0.4     0.2     0.5
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 129.4   129.6   130.4     1.5     .6      -.6      .3      .6
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 134.5   134.6   133.2     -.4   -1.0     -1.4      .4     -.9
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  88.3   100.5   101.4    12.3     .9      2.6    -5.5      .9
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 137.9   114.4   132.5   -21.0   15.8    -23.5    20.2    15.8
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................| 102.9    89.5    74.8   -10.5  -16.4     -9.7     4.0   -10.0
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 176.7   177.3   177.6     1.1     .2       .4     -.4      .2
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 128.7   126.8   125.6     2.6    -.9      -.8    -1.3     -.9
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 122.4   122.5   122.4     -.2    -.1       .2     -.5     -.1
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................|  98.8   102.7   102.2     3.0    -.5     -2.4     2.4     2.3
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................|  80.2    87.6    86.0   -10.5   -1.8     -6.3     1.0    -3.1
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 120.5   113.9   110.4    -7.8   -3.1     -3.0     -.7    -2.8
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................|  97.6    87.3    89.0    -2.5    1.9      -.4     1.3      .2
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 175.6   204.6   184.9     -.5   -9.6      1.0     9.4    -7.1
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 148.4   142.6   132.1      .5   -7.4     -3.0    -1.4    -7.1
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 127.2   127.5   128.1     2.2     .5       .3      .2      .5
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 169.1   169.4   169.4      .8    0        -.5     -.4     0
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 134.8   137.2   137.6     1.7     .3       .6      .6      .4
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 136.9   136.8   136.7    -8.9    -.1      0       -.1     -.1
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 148.2   137.6   138.2    -3.1     .4     -4.0    -1.5      .4
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 127.1   127.3   129.1     2.5    1.4      -.3      .3     1.3
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 136.5   137.1   137.2     1.6     .1      -.1      .1     0
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 123.1   122.1   122.5      .5     .3       .1     -.2      .3
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 133.3   133.0   132.8     -.2    -.2      -.1     -.3     -.1
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 121.0   118.5   117.6    -3.8    -.8      -.5    -2.3     -.8
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 123.2   123.7   123.5      .2    -.2      0        .5     -.2
04-3       |   Footwear............................................| 144.9   145.6   144.6     -.1    -.7       .3     -.2     -.6
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 107.5   107.3   107.1    -1.2    -.2      -.6      .2     -.1
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 117.2   112.3   109.8    -3.8   -2.2      -.5    -1.8    -1.7
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  43.2    47.0    64.1    18.7   36.4       .2     3.6    29.1
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  38.8    43.0    50.3    -1.8   17.0     -4.1    13.1    14.3
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription) 2/.....| 335.6   341.1   341.9     4.9     .2       .8      .1      .2
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter) 2/..| 185.0   186.0   186.8     1.5     .4      -.2      .4      .4
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 125.5   125.5   125.6     -.5     .1      0        .1      .1
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 133.6   134.1   133.8     1.1    -.2      0        .5     -.2
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  93.9    92.3    93.7     -.5    1.5      -.5     -.2     1.5
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 145.6   146.7   143.6    -1.0   -2.1     -1.2     1.3    -2.1
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 204.3   207.6   207.4     2.3    -.1      -.1     1.6     -.1
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 195.9   196.0   195.9     1.9    -.1       .2     -.3      .2
09-33      |   Book publishing 2/..................................| 212.2   211.3   211.9     3.6     .3      -.6     -.2      .3
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 149.6   150.1   150.2     1.6     .1       .3      .1      .1
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 127.9   128.0   127.1     -.9    -.7       .1      .6     -.7
12-4       |   Household appliances ...............................| 108.8   108.3   108.6     -.1     .3       .5    -1.1      .2
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  74.5    74.2    74.1    -3.5    -.1      -.3     -.1     -.1
12-62      |   Household glassware 2/..............................| 162.4   162.9   164.3      .7     .9      -.4      .1      .9
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 140.0   140.0   140.0      .7    0        0       0       0
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 132.2   132.3   131.9      .2    -.3      0        .1     -.3
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 134.1   131.1   130.7    -1.1    -.3      -.3     -.5      .2
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 123.9   124.1   124.0     -.5    -.1      -.2      .2     -.2
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 126.2   126.4   126.0     -.2    -.3       .4     -.1     -.3
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 364.1   363.5   363.4    34.1    0        0        .1     0
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 155.7   156.7   157.6     2.7     .6       .5      .1      .6
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 127.7   127.7   127.8     -.4     .1      -.9     0        .1
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 139.7   139.9   140.1      .4     .1      -.1     -.1      .1
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 137.9   137.8   137.7     0      -.1       .1     0       0
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 150.8   150.2   150.9      .3     .5       .1      .1      .5
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 145.5   146.7   147.4     1.7     .5       .1      .3      .5
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 160.2   160.5   160.4      .3    -.1       .1      .1     -.1
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 158.5   159.4   159.6     1.4     .1       .1      .1      .1
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 139.0   139.2   139.4      .4     .1       .1      .1      .1
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 149.7   151.4   151.6     2.0     .1       .3      .1      .2
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 132.1   132.6   132.6     1.2    0         .2      .2     0
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............|  21.8    20.5    19.7   -24.2   -3.9     -1.4    -1.0    -3.9
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 153.1   154.3   154.3      .8    0         .7      .2     0
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 161.4   161.8   162.4     1.6     .4      -.8      .2      .4
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 140.4   141.0   140.8      .6    -.1      -.8     0       -.1
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 130.6   130.5   130.5     -.2    0        -.1     -.6     0
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 113.5   114.2   114.1     -.3    -.1       .5      .1     -.1
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 106.1   106.1   105.8     -.8    -.3      -.1      .2     -.3
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 126.3   126.5   126.6      .8     .1       .2      .1      .1
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 142.3   143.6   143.9     1.3     .2       .1      .3      .2
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.3   112.0   112.3     -.1     .3       .1     0        .3
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 155.4   156.3   156.0      .6    -.2       .4      .1     -.2
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 158.1   158.1   158.4     1.5     .2       .4     -.2      .3
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 145.3   146.1   146.1     3.3    0         .1      .2     0
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 135.3   135.2   135.9      .7     .5      -.1      .1      .5
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 150.8   151.1   151.0      .4    -.1      0        .2     -.1
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 145.8   145.8   145.8     0      0        0       0       0
14-4       |   Railroad equipment..................................| 135.2   134.6   134.3     -.9    -.2       .1     -.1     -.4
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 120.9   120.8   121.6    -1.4     .7      -.5      .3      .6
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 114.5   110.9   108.7    -6.0   -2.0     -2.0    -1.6    -1.8
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 107.3   104.6   103.0    -8.6   -1.5      -.6    -1.5    -1.5
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 120.3   122.6   122.6     2.6    0        1.4     2.0     0
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................|  92.8    93.5    93.7      .6     .2      -.5      .2     0
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 122.0    95.1    98.0   -29.4    3.0     -9.5   -15.1     3.0
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 101.9    97.1    97.4   -10.7     .3     -1.7    -2.8      .3
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 121.3   121.3   122.3    -1.2     .8      -.4      .3      .7
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 106.9   104.5   104.4    -5.9    -.1       .1     -.5     -.1
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 111.3   108.7   108.7    -4.1    0       -1.8      .6     0
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 118.8   117.7   115.9    -5.9   -1.5      -.8      .8    -1.5
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 122.5   122.4   122.7    -1.5     .2      -.2     0       0
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 128.7   128.9   128.9    -1.2    0        0       -.2     0
04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 177.9   174.1   176.6     0      1.4      0        .4     2.1
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  54.7    53.1    53.1   -14.9    0       -1.6     7.3     0
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
See footnotes at end of table.

Table 2.  Producer price indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing - Continued
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Apr. 1999 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   | Apr.  | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb. to|Mar. to
           |                                                       |1998 1/|1999 1/|1999 1/| 1998  | 1999  |  Feb. |  Mar. |  Apr.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 125.2   126.2   124.2    -1.2   -1.6     -0.3     0.4    -1.5
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 126.6   126.5   125.2     -.9   -1.0      -.5     -.1     -.7
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 110.6   105.4   102.9    -3.1   -2.4     -1.0    -1.6     -.1
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 105.1    99.1    95.0    -8.0   -4.1     -2.9     -.2    -2.2
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  81.8    74.3    71.1    -6.9   -4.3       .8    -6.9     4.3
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  37.4    38.0    48.9     3.4   28.7     -2.7     9.9    28.4
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  39.0    42.6    53.1     6.2   24.6     -3.3    16.4    18.8
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  35.8    34.9    40.4   -18.1   15.8    -19.9    23.8    15.8
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 118.9   117.4   116.8    -4.5    -.5      -.8     -.5     -.5
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 155.8   157.0   157.5     1.7     .3       .2     -.3      .1
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 143.6   143.1   144.3      .5     .8     -1.1      .1      .8
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals ..................| 135.2   138.6   138.8     2.7     .1     -1.6      .2      .1
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 110.3    78.0    81.7   -26.5    4.7    -10.5   -21.1     4.7
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 113.6   114.5   114.3    -1.3    -.2      -.5     0       -.3
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................|  95.9    97.2    98.4   -11.3    1.2      -.2      .3      .6
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 114.7   114.3   114.9     3.3     .5      1.3     0        .5
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals........................| 146.3   146.4   145.6    -2.4    -.5       .1      .8     -.1
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 115.9   117.2   119.2    -8.8    1.7      -.3     1.8     1.7
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 115.8   115.8   115.4    -1.7    -.3      0        .3     -.3
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 124.9   124.1   125.4    -1.6    1.0       .3     -.6      .5
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 126.9   125.0   125.6    -2.3     .5     -1.0      .1      .5
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.2   117.0   117.7      .4     .6       .1     -.2      .6
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 175.1   193.7   193.1     -.2    -.3      3.0     3.7     -.3
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 176.2   176.5   176.4    -1.9    -.1     -1.0      .7     -.1
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 171.4   172.2   173.2     1.3     .6       .2      .2      .6
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 161.1   172.7   169.5    11.2   -1.9      4.4     2.2    -1.9
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 116.7   110.2   110.4    -9.1     .2     -2.7    -2.5      .2
09-13      |   Paper...............................................| 141.4   139.8   139.8    -4.8    0        -.6     -.6      .2
09-14      |   Paperboard..........................................| 143.6   146.6   149.4    -3.7    1.9      -.8     4.6     2.5
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 151.9   150.6   154.3     -.3    2.5      -.5      .3     2.5
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 129.3   137.1   138.2     5.5     .8       .8     3.9      .8
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 152.8   152.3   152.2      .3    -.1       .1      .1     -.1
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 135.0   135.0   135.3      .1     .2      -.3     -.1      .3
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 108.7   105.5   105.1    -8.9    -.4     -1.2    -1.0     -.4
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................|  97.6    94.1    94.0   -16.9    -.1     -3.5    -2.1     -.1
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 137.1   134.2   133.7    -7.3    -.4     -1.1     -.2     -.4
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 146.4   143.2   144.4    -8.8     .8      -.6    -1.4      .8
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 137.4   134.0   133.0    -6.7    -.7     -1.0     -.5     -.7
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 107.1   107.0   107.0    -1.5    0       -1.5     0       0
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 147.2   147.3   147.8      .6     .3      -.3     -.1      .4
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 174.0   176.1   176.1      .2    0       -1.5      .9      .1
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 154.0   153.1   153.6      .1     .3      -.1     -.1      .3
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 142.8   142.7   142.9      .7     .1      -.1     0        .1
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.2   130.9   130.7      .5    -.2      -.1      .2     -.2
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 125.8   125.4   125.5     -.8     .1      -.2     -.3      .1
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 158.9   160.6   160.8     2.2     .1       .3      .3      .3
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 136.0   136.1   136.2     1.9     .1      -.1     0        .1
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 159.0   160.4   160.6     2.7     .1       .1      .3      .1
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 165.8   166.3   166.8     1.3     .3       .1      .1      .5
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 152.6   151.4   151.5    -1.8     .1     -1.0     -.5      .1
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 145.9   146.4   146.3      .4    -.1      0        .1     -.2
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 149.8   149.8   150.4     1.6     .4       .1     -.2      .5
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  99.1    98.9    98.7    -1.7    -.2      -.3     0       -.2
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 141.0   142.6   142.7     1.6     .1       .6     -.3      .1
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 136.8   136.8   136.8      .4    0        0       0       0
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 106.8   106.9   105.8     -.9   -1.0      0       2.4    -1.0
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 148.0   149.3   150.4     3.4     .7       .1      .6    -1.3
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 141.4   142.7   143.6     2.9     .6       .3     -.1      .4
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................|  99.3    98.3    99.5      .5    1.2     -1.5     -.3     1.2
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 184.7   195.0   195.4    13.6     .2      2.9     2.0      .2
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 126.0   125.9   126.2      .2     .2      -.6      .1      .2
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 114.5   113.8   113.6    -1.0    -.2      0        .1     -.2
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 137.4   139.8   139.3     1.5    -.4       .9     -.2      .6
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 143.7   144.0   142.7      .4    -.9      -.2      .3     -.9
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 129.0   125.1   125.1    -3.0    0       -3.0     0       0
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 144.0   144.6   144.7     1.2     .1      -.3      .6      .2
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................|  89.8    89.5    90.4    -9.9    1.0     -3.4     1.0     1.3
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................|  97.0    98.9    95.8    -9.5   -3.1     -2.8    -1.3    -2.5
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................|  85.9    79.6    78.6   -15.1   -1.3     -4.3    -4.1    -1.3
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................|  83.6    84.7    83.2   -15.4   -1.8     -1.3    -7.2     -.9
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................|  85.7    97.4    96.4    -2.0   -1.0      1.7     4.6    -1.0
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  16.6    44.8    48.1   -16.6    7.4     -1.2    -6.4     6.6
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 141.4   132.1   122.7   -11.1   -7.1      2.4    -5.4    -3.7
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 123.6   103.9   108.8     8.9    4.7      1.1     2.4     -.2
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 132.4   110.2    96.2    -5.1  -12.7     -8.3    -5.4   -11.3
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................|  92.7    78.5    80.8   -25.0    2.9     -8.5    -6.5     2.9
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 117.6   118.4   119.6     1.8    1.0      -.3     -.3     1.0

           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................|  81.6    79.8    83.5   -10.1    4.6     -4.0     3.1     4.5
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................|  98.7    97.4    95.5    -5.6   -2.0     -5.1     2.5    -3.7
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 112.3   114.6    95.8    -3.8  -16.4       .2     1.8   -16.4
04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 143.7   132.8   133.6   -12.2     .6      -.6    -7.1      .6
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  97.1    92.4    92.7    -2.6     .3     -4.8     2.4      .3
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................|  83.4    69.8    71.0   -21.2    1.7     -5.0    -1.7     1.7
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  26.1    33.3    42.4    11.3   27.3    -13.8    27.1    27.3
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 197.9   202.4   201.4    -7.3    -.5      -.5      .1     -.9
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 116.3   142.7   142.5    -7.3    -.1     13.3     2.2     -.1
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  95.2    95.2    94.9     -.3    -.3      0        .3     -.3
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 118.5   124.1   124.5   -32.4     .3      2.9    -4.4      .3
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  61.9    60.9    59.8   -15.5   -1.8      2.0    -1.0    -1.8
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 100.5    98.9   102.3   -18.1    3.4     -4.4     9.2     3.4
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 144.6   145.8   148.8   -15.8    2.1       .6     -.8     2.8
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 154.2   155.9   156.7     2.8     .5       .6      .5      .1
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1/  The indexes for December 1998 have been recalculated to incorporate              2/  Not seasonally adjusted.
    late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are                     3/  Not available.
    subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
Table 3.  Producer price indexes for selected commodity groupings
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
         |                                                |                                   |
         |                                                |         Unadjusted index 1/       |
Commodity|                                                |___________________________________|
  code   |                    Grouping                    | Dec. 1998 |March 1999 |April 1999 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   368.0   |   368.3   |   370.0   |
         | All commodities................................|   122.8   |   122.8   |   123.5   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   120.5   |   120.3   |   118.3   |
01       |   Farm products................................|    99.0   |    99.1   |    96.9   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   131.1   |   130.8   |   128.9   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   123.3   |   123.3   |   124.5   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   122.0   |   121.1   |   121.0   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   146.6   |   144.6   |   144.9   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    70.4   |    70.4   |    75.0   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   142.7   |   142.8   |   143.0   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   122.3   |   121.7   |   122.4   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   175.9   |   181.9   |   181.6   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   170.4   |   171.2   |   171.9   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   124.0   |   123.0   |   122.9   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   124.5   |   124.7   |   124.6   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   131.4   |   131.6   |   131.5   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   136.6   |   137.8   |   138.2   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   142.3   |   141.8   |   141.5   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   166.0   |   165.6   |   165.2   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   138.7   |   138.7   |   138.7   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   116.5   |   114.8   |   122.5   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|    87.1   |    84.9   |    83.1   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    67.3   |    83.6   |    83.8   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   136.2   |   124.8   |   118.7   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|    97.7   |    96.3   |    94.4   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   121.5   |   104.9   |    85.3   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   113.9   |   102.2   |   105.0   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   105.5   |    91.3   |    93.5   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   167.4   |   171.0   |   142.9   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   157.6   |   157.1   |   157.2   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   107.9   |   112.2   |   109.6   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   118.3   |   113.6   |   111.4   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   134.4   |   135.2   |   135.3   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   137.3   |   138.4   |   138.8   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   134.6   |   134.5   |   134.5   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   140.1   |   123.8   |   123.0   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   127.0   |   126.3   |   126.3   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   144.7   |   145.4   |   145.1   |
05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|    74.9   |    64.6   |    65.5   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   125.8   |   126.0   |   125.0   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    42.2   |    45.7   |    58.4   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   249.1   |   252.8   |   253.8   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   125.5   |   125.8   |   125.9   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   135.0   |   134.9   |   134.7   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   114.9   |   114.3   |   114.6   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   115.2   |   115.2   |   114.8   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   138.3   |   138.3   |   138.1   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   129.1   |   128.4   |   129.3   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   173.5   |   186.4   |   186.0   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   143.2   |   143.3   |   144.2   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   150.6   |   150.2   |   151.2   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   114.5   |   112.8   |   112.5   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   116.4   |   114.6   |   114.4   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   131.7   |   129.0   |   128.8   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   147.5   |   147.9   |   148.1   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   148.3   |   149.1   |   149.4   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   160.0   |   160.9   |   161.3   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   120.4   |   120.6   |   120.4   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   132.4   |   133.0   |   133.1   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   151.8   |   152.2   |   152.0   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   149.3   |   150.9   |   151.8   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   132.9   |   131.6   |   131.5   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   132.4   |   132.7   |   132.4   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   113.3   |   111.4   |   110.1   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   134.5   |   135.0   |   134.9   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|

1/  Data for December 1998 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and
    corrections by respondents.  All data are subject to revision 4 months after
    original publication.

2/  Prices of some items in this grouping are lagged 1 month.
Table 4.  Producer price indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Apr._1999_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                  |                                              |     |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   |  Apr.  |  Mar.
                  |                                              |     |1998 2/|1999 2/|1999 2/|  1998  |  1999
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  66.8    64.6    68.0     -8.2      5.3
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  69.5    68.9    67.9    -11.4     -1.5
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  91.4    88.7    89.2     -1.7       .6
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  62.9    60.3    64.7    -10.5      7.3
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 132.7   133.7   134.1      1.4       .3
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 125.9   126.2   127.4      1.0      1.0
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 126.1   125.5   124.2     -1.0     -1.0
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 316.0   315.8   316.0     36.8       .1
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 117.6   116.8   116.3     -2.4      -.4
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 124.9   125.0   125.1       .3       .1
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 155.7   160.1   160.1      1.0    0
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 140.2   140.8   140.7       .9      -.1
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 133.5   133.2   134.0     -2.2       .6
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 175.2   176.5   176.9      1.7       .2
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 147.9   148.1   148.5      -.9       .3
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  56.3    59.3    73.3      8.0     23.6
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 121.8   121.2   121.9      -.5       .6
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 136.7   136.8   136.2      -.7      -.4
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 130.2   131.7   132.1      2.6       .3
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 116.9   114.9   114.6     -6.5      -.3
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 128.7   128.8   128.9       .2       .1
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 117.3   117.5   117.5      -.3    0
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 110.0   109.9   109.8      -.6      -.1
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 134.9   134.3   134.2       .3      -.1
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.9   126.4   126.3    0          -.1
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 129.8   130.3   130.2       .5      -.1
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Services industries                           |     |
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 101.5   100.8   100.8      -.9    0
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 112.7   113.9   114.4      3.2       .4
       43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3   135.4   135.4      2.3    0
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 105.7   105.9   106.1      3.8       .2
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 126.5   128.5   130.0      4.6      1.2
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86|  99.2    98.2    98.5      -.8       .3
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 108.4   109.2   109.3      1.8       .1
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 106.7   107.7   108.1      2.0       .4
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes.  Because of differences
   in coverage and aggregation methodology, they will generally not match the movements of similarly-titled
   indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings.
2/ The indexes for December 1998 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.
   All indexes are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
3/ Not available.
Table 5.  Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |     
                                                       |                      Index 1/   
                                                       |____________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |        |        |        |        |        |       
                                                       |  Nov.  |  Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb.  |  Mar.  |  Apr. 
                                                       |  1998  |  1998  |  1999  |  1999  |  1999  |  1999 
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
      Finished goods...................................|  130.7    131.3    131.8    131.3    131.6    132.2
        Finished consumer goods........................|  128.9    129.7    130.5    129.7    130.1    130.9
          Finished consumer foods......................|  134.5    134.5    136.5    134.6    135.2    134.0
            Crude......................................|  126.6    129.3    138.2    125.7    133.0    129.7
            Processed..................................|  135.1    134.8    136.4    135.3    135.3    134.3
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  126.3    127.5    127.8    127.4    127.8    129.4
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  121.7    123.5    124.0    123.6    124.2    126.4
            Durable goods..............................|  133.5    133.3    132.9    132.8    132.6    132.7
        Capital equipment..............................|  137.8    137.7    137.5    137.6    137.6    137.6
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  138.1    138.1    138.1    138.3    138.4    138.4
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  137.6    137.5    137.1    137.2    137.2    137.2
                                                       |
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  121.9    121.1    121.4    120.8    121.2    121.9
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  124.6    124.1    124.2    123.5    123.5    123.3
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  125.0    123.8    125.3    122.8    121.6    118.6
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  123.8    123.2    123.4    122.4    122.7    122.9
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  125.2    124.3    124.1    123.5    123.3    123.1
          Components for manufacturing.................|  125.9    125.8    125.7    125.6    125.6    125.7
        Materials and components for construction......|  146.7    146.7    147.0    147.3    147.7    147.9
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   79.5     76.8     78.2     77.1     78.8     82.3
          Manufacturing industries ....................|   84.6     82.8     83.9     82.3     83.6     85.5
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   76.4     73.2     74.8     73.9     75.9     80.3
        Containers.....................................|  139.2    138.5    138.5    137.7    138.0    140.3
        Supplies.......................................|  134.4    134.4    134.1    133.8    133.6    133.9
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  140.7    140.7    140.3    140.2    140.3    140.5
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  131.6    131.6    131.4    131.0    130.8    131.1
            Feeds......................................|   92.9     93.2     93.0     91.0     87.8     88.1
            Other supplies.............................|  136.3    136.3    136.1    135.9    136.0    136.2
                                                       |
      Crude materials for further processing...........|   93.8     90.4     91.7     88.6     89.5     90.7
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|  102.6     98.2    103.4    100.5     99.2     96.7
        Nonfood materials..............................|   84.3     81.8     80.4     77.2     79.6     83.2
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|   77.9     72.7     75.5     73.4     77.5     82.9
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   70.5     65.6     68.2     66.2     70.2     75.3
            Construction...............................|  192.1    190.8    190.6    190.9    191.9    190.8
          Crude fuel 3/................................|   86.4     87.7     80.6     76.3     76.2     77.1
            Manufacturing industries...................|   83.8     84.2     77.5     74.7     74.3     75.5
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|   88.2     89.6     82.4     77.8     77.7     78.7
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  129.5    130.2    130.4    130.2    130.4    131.5
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  122.3    121.5    121.8    121.3    121.7    122.6
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  115.1    114.4    115.3    113.0    111.2    109.2
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|   83.1     80.7     79.3     76.1     78.6     82.8
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   73.2     71.9     72.9     72.2     73.1     76.8
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  141.7    142.8    143.2    142.7    142.8    142.5
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  143.2    144.8    145.5    144.7    144.9    144.5
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  144.4    145.9    145.7    145.7    145.7    145.8
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  148.7    151.4    151.2    151.1    151.2    151.2
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  160.4    165.5    165.6    165.4    165.6    165.7
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|   79.3     76.5     78.1     76.8     78.5     82.0
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  131.4    131.1    131.0    130.6    130.6    130.7
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  132.4    132.2    132.1    131.8    131.9    132.1
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   66.9     64.2     62.4     57.8     61.3     66.5
      Crude materials less energy......................|  109.7    105.9    109.7    108.0    106.8    104.6
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  131.1    128.9    129.0    130.4    129.3    127.9
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 December 1998 have been
      recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.  
  2/  Includes crude petroleum.
  3/  Excludes crude petroleum.

Technical Notes





Brief Explanation of
Producer Price Indexes

     Producer price indexes (PPI) measure average changes in
prices received by domestic producers of commodities in all
stages of processing. Most of the information used in
calculating the indexes is obtained through the systematic
sampling of nearly every industry in the manufacturing and
mining sectors of the economy. The PPI program also includes
some information from other sectors--agriculture, fishing,
forestry, services, and gas and electricity. Because
producer price indexes are designed to measure only the
change in prices received for the output of domestic
industries, imports are not included. The sample currently
contains about 3,200 commodities and 80,000 quotations per
month.
     There are three primary systems of indexes within the
PPI program: (1) Stage of processing indexes; (2) commodity
indexes; and (3) indexes for the net output of industries
and their products. The stage-of-processing structure
(tables 1 and 2) organizes products by class of buyer and
degree of processing. The commodity structure (tables 2 and
3) organizes products by similarity of end-use or material
composition. The entire output of various industries is
sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of
industries and their products (table 4).
     Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods
are commodities that will not undergo further processing and
are ready for sale to the final demand user, either an
individual consumer or business firm. Consumer foods include
unprocessed foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables, as well
as processed foods such as bakery products and meats. Other
finished consumer goods include durable goods such as
automobiles, household furniture, and appliances, and
nondurable goods such as apparel and home heating oil.
Capital equipment includes producer durable goods such as
heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine tools.
     The stage-of-processing category for intermediate
materials, supplies, and components consists partly of
commodities that have been processed but require further
processing. Examples of such semifinished goods include
flour, cotton yarn, steel mill products, and lumber. The
intermediate goods category also encompasses nondurable,
physically complete items purchased by business firms as
inputs for their operations. Examples include diesel fuel,
belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers.
     Crude materials for further processing are products
entering the market for the first time that have not been
manufactured or fabricated and that are not sold directly to
consumers. Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs include items
such as grains and livestock. Examples of crude nonfood
materials include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides
and skins, and iron and steel scrap.
     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries
and their products are grouped according to the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) and the Census product code
extension of the SIC. Industry price indexes are compatible
with other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such
as data on employment, wages, and productivity. Table 4
lists indexes for the net output of major mining and
manufacturing industry groups at the 2-digit level.
     Producer price indexes are based on selling prices
reported by establishments of all sizes selected by
probability sampling, with the probability of selection
proportionate to size. Individual items and transaction
terms from these firms are also chosen by probability
proportionate to size. BLS strongly encourages cooperating
companies to supply actual transaction prices at the time of
shipment to minimize the use of list prices. Prices are
normally reported by mail questionnaire for the Tuesday of
the week containing the 13th.
     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential
basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to
individual company price reports. All producer price indexes
are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months after
original publication, to reflect the availability of late
reports and corrections by respondents.
     Net output values of shipments are used as weights for
industry indexes. Net output values refer to the value of
shipments from establishments in one industry to
establishments classified in another industry. However,
weights for commodity price indexes are based on gross
shipment values, including shipment values between
establishments within the same industry. As a result, broad
commodity grouping indexes such as the all commodities index
are affected by the multiple counting of price change at
successive stages of processing, which can lead to
exaggerated or misleading signals about inflation. Stage-of-
processing indexes partially correct this defect, but
industry indexes consistently correct for this at all levels
of aggregation. Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing
indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings
for economic analysis of general price trends.
     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the
PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing
indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings,
currently reflect 1987 values of shipments as reported in
the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January
1987 through December 1991, PPI weights were derived from
1982 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are
also now calculated with 1987 net output weights.
     Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many
important PPI series (including stage-of-processing
groupings and most commodity groups and individual items)
were placed on a new reference base, 1982=100, to coincide
with the reference year of the shipment weights. From 1971
through 1987, the standard reference base for most PPI
series was 1967=100. Except for rounding differences, the
shift to the new reference base did not alter any changes to
previously published percent changes for affected PPI
series. (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.) The new
reference base is not used for indexes with a base later
than December 1981, nor for indexes for the net output of
industries and their products.
     For further information on the underlying concepts and
methodology of the Producer Price Index, see chapter 16,
"Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (September
1992), Bulletin 2414. Reprints are available from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics on request.

Calculating Index Changes

     Movements of price indexes from one month to another
are usually expressed as percent changes rather than as
changes in index points because index point chances are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period, while percent changes are not. The box shows the
computation of index point and percent changes.
     Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods can be
expressed as annual rates that are computed according to the
standard formula for compound growth rates. These data
indicate what the percent change would be if the rate for a
given 3- or 6-month span were maintained for a 12-month
period.





                Index Point Change

     Finished Goods Price Index    107.5
     Less previous index           104.0
     Equals index point change       3.5

          Index Percent Change

     Index point change              3.5
     Divided by the previous index 104.0
     Equals                          0.034
     Result multiplied by 100        0.034 x 100
     Equals percent change           3.4

     Each index measures price changes from a reference
period which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). An
increase of 5.5 percent from the reference period in the
Finished Goods Price Index, for example, is shown as 105.5.
This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:
"Prices received by domestic producers of a systematic
sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to
$105.50 to-day." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would
indicate that prices received by producers of finished goods
today are 10 percent lower than they were in 1982.

Seasonally Adjusted
and Unadjusted Data

     Because price data are used for different purposes by
different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
month.
     Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing
general price trends in the economy because they eliminate
the effect of changes that normally occur at about the same
time and in about the same magnitude every year-such as
price movements resulting from normal weather patterns,
regular production and marketing cycles, model changeovers,
seasonal discounts, and holidays. For these reasons,
seasonally adjusted data more clearly reveal underlying
cyclical trends.
     Unadjusted data are of primary interest to users who
need information which can be related to actual dollar
values of transactions. Individuals requiring this
information include marketing specialists, purchasing
agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and
commodity traders. It is the unadjusted data that are
generally cited in escalating long-term contracts such as
purchasing agreements or real estate leases. (See Escalation
and Producer Price Indexes: A Guide for Contracting Parties,
BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from
BLS.)
     For more information, see "Appendix A: Seasonal
Adjustment Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of
Methods (September 1992), Bulletin 2414.