FOR DATA ONLY:  (202) 606-7828     USDL 97-52
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:         TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
(202) 606-7705                     THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
MEDIA CONTACT:  (202) 606-5902     UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (E.S.T), FRIDAY,
http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   FEBRUARY 14, 1997
                                     
                   Producer Price Indexes - January 1997
     
     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.3 percent in
January, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U. S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This followed increases of 0.6 percent
in December and 0.2 percent in November.  Prices received by producers of
intermediate goods rose 0.2 percent in January after increasing 0.3 percent
in the month prior.  The Crude Goods Price Index advanced 5.2 percent
following a gain of 4.9 percent in December.  (See table A.)

     Among finished goods in January, the index for energy goods turned
down after rising in each of the previous six months.  Prices for finished
consumer foods declined 1.0 percent in January after falling 0.1 percent in
the previous month.  Prices for finished goods other than food and energy
remained unchanged after increasing 0.1 percent in December.
     
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.)
 1996                                                     
 Jan.     0.1   -0.2    1.4     0.0         2.2    0.0    2.5
 Feb.       0   -0.2   -0.6     0.1         2.0   -0.4    1.9
 Mar.     0.5    0.8    2.5       0         2.4    0.2   -1.2
 Apr.     0.2   -0.3    2.1       0         2.4    0.3    4.0
 May      0.2    0.2   -0.6     0.2         2.3    0.4    1.1
 June     0.3    1.4   -0.8     0.1         2.7   -0.3   -2.4
 July       0    0.1    0.4       0         2.6   -0.2    2.2
 Aug.     0.3    0.7    0.6     0.1         3.0    0.2    0.6
Sept.     0.3    0.4    0.7     0.1         3.0    0.4   -2.6
 Oct.     0.2    0.7    1.2    -0.2         3.0   -0.2   -0.8
 Nov.     0.2      0    1.5     0.1         3.0    0.1    1.7
 Dec.     0.6   -0.1    3.4     0.1         2.8    0.3    4.9
                                                             
 1997                                                        
 Jan.    -0.3   -1.0   -0.2       0         2.5    0.2    5.2
NOTE:  Some percent changes shown here and elsewhere in this release may
differ from those previously reported because seasonal adjustment factors 
have been recalculated to reflect developments during 1996. In addition, 
indexes for September 1996 have been recalculated to incorporate late 
reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are subject to 
revision four months after original publication.
                                    -2-
     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods dropped 0.1 percent in January to 132.6 (1982=100).  From January
1996 to January 1997, the Finished Goods Price Index rose 2.5 percent.
Over the same period, prices for finished consumer foods rose 2.5 percent,
the index for finished energy goods advanced 10.4 percent, and prices for
finished goods other than food and energy were up 0.6 percent.  Prices
received by domestic producers of intermediate goods increased 1.0 percent
for the 12 months ended in January, and the index for crude goods rose 15.1
percent during this same period.

Finished Goods

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Energy Goods declined 0.2
percent in January following an increase of 3.4 percent in the prior month.
Prices for unleaded regular gasoline turned down 4.9 percent after
advancing 14.1 percent in December.  The index for premium unleaded
gasoline and home heating oil also fell after rising a month ago.  The
index for finished lubricants fell more than in December.  By contrast,
prices for residential gas rose 5.0 percent following an increase of 0.9
percent in December.
     
     Prices for finished consumer foods fell faster than a month ago.  The
index for fresh fruits and melons dropped 6.0 percent after rising 11.8
percent in December.  Prices also turned down after rising a month earlier
for eggs for fresh use, pork, and young chickens.  The index for beef and
veal fell more in January than it did a month ago.  By contrast, prices for
fresh and dry vegetables rose 4.2 percent following a 21.4 percent decline
in December.  The indexes for confectionery end products and for pasta also
increased after falling in the prior month.  Prices for dairy products fell
less than a month ago, and the indexes for shortening and cooking oils rose
more than in December.
     
Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for
intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted
              Interm                           Crude           
              ediate                           goods
              goods
                            Change in                        Change in
                            intermedi                          crude
                               ate
                     Exclud   goods                  Excludi   goods
                      ing      from                    ng
                     foods  12 months         Energy  foods   from 12
                      and      ago                     and   months ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy  (unadj.)   Foods (unadj energy   (unadj.)
                                                .)
 1996                                                             
 Jan.     0.2    2.4   -0.3        2.2    0.1    7.7    0.1     7.2
 Feb.    -0.2   -1.0   -0.4        1.1      0    5.9   -0.2     8.3
 Mar.     0.2    2.0   -0.2        0.7    0.3   -2.5   -2.1     7.5
 Apr.     1.9    3.4   -0.1        0.6    3.5    8.3   -1.3     10.4
 May      3.8    0.6    0.1        0.7    5.8   -4.6    0.7     12.7
 June     0.7   -2.4      0        0.3    0.7   -6.8   -1.8     9.6
 July     0.4      0   -0.3       -0.1    1.7    5.4   -1.6     13.2
 Aug.     0.3    0.8    0.1        0.1   -0.6    2.4    0.5     15.4
Sept.     0.8    1.1    0.2        0.6   -3.5   -3.3    0.5     10.1
 Oct.    -2.0    1.1   -0.2        0.5   -3.2    2.1    0.1     9.4
 Nov.    -2.1    0.4    0.1        0.6   -2.2    7.7   -0.5     9.4
 Dec.    -0.2    2.2    0.1        0.8   -2.7   16.5      0     12.2
                                                                  
 1997                                                             
 Jan.    -0.8    1.1    0.1        1.0   -1.0   12.9    2.0     15.1
NOTE:  Some percent changes shown here and elsewhere in this release may
differ from those previously reported because seasonal adjustment factors
have been recalculated to reflect developments during 1996.  In addition,
indexes for September 1996 have been recalculated to incorporate late
reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are subject to revision
four months after original publication.
                                    -3-
     The index for finished consumer goods excluding food and energy
remained unchanged in January after rising 0.1 percent in December.  Price
increases for prescription drugs, alcoholic beverages, light trucks, and
for tires and tubes were offset by price declines for passenger cars,
sanitary papers, newspaper circulation, and for men's and boys' apparel.

     The index for capital equipment registered no change in January after
rising 0.1 percent in December.  Price increases for light motor trucks,
communications and related equipment, commercial furniture, construction
machinery and equipment, and agricultural machinery and equipment offset
price declines for heavy motor trucks, civilian aircraft, and electronic
computers.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components advanced 0.2 percent in January, seasonally adjusted, after
rising 0.3 percent a month earlier.  Increases for energy goods, both
durable and nondurable manufacturing materials, and construction materials
outweighed declines for foods and feeds.  Excluding food and energy, the
intermediate materials index increased 0.1 percent for the third
consecutive month.  (See table B.)

     The rise in the index for intermediate energy materials slowed to 1.1
percent from 2.2 percent in December.  The index for diesel fuel turned
down 2.0 percent after rising 5.2 percent in the previous month.  Prices
for both regular and premium unleaded gasoline also fell after increasing
in December.  Prices for liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuels rose less
than a month earlier.  By contrast, the index for electric power turned up
0.3 percent after falling 0.6 percent in December.  Prices for residual
fuel and liquid asphalt also increased after declining in the prior month.
The index for industrial natural gas rose more than a month ago.

     The rise in the index for durable manufacturing materials slowed to
0.2 percent from 0.5 percent in the previous month.  The index for prepared
paint turned down 0.3 percent after rising 2.2 percent a month earlier.
Prices for flat glass also declined after increasing a month ago.  The
index for hot rolled steel sheet and strip fell more than in December, and
prices for copper and brass mill shapes rose less than in the prior month.
On the other hand, the rise in the index for aluminum accelerated to 6.0
percent from 1.9 percent in the previous month.  Prices for hardwood lumber
and aluminum mill shapes also rose more than a month earlier.  Indexes for
hot rolled steel bars, plates, and structural shapes and for cold rolled
steel sheet and strip fell less than a month ago.

     The index for nondurable manufacturing materials increased 0.1 percent
for the third consecutive month.  Price increases for inedible fats and
oils, synthetic fibers, primary basic organic chemicals, and woodpulp
outweighed declines for plastic resins and materials, intermediate basic
organic chemicals, and nitrogenates.

     The index for construction materials rose 0.1 percent after remaining
unchanged in December.  Price increases for millwork, gypsum products,
softwood lumber, fabricated structural metal products, and for nonferrous
wire and cable more than offset declines for plastic construction products,
air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, and plywood.

     The index for intermediate foods and feeds fell 0.8 percent after
declining 0.2 percent in the previous month.  The index for prepared animal
feeds turned down 0.7 percent after rising 0.5 percent a month earlier.
Prices for pork and flour also declined after advancing in December.  The
indexes for beef and veal and fluid milk products fell more than a month
ago.  Conversely, the decline in the index for natural and processed cheese
slowed to 0.3 percent from 2.8 percent.  Prices for condensed and
evaporated milk also fell less than in the prior month.  The index for
crude vegetable oils rose more than in the previous month.

                                    -4-
Crude Goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
increased 5.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, after rising 4.9 percent a
month earlier.  The index for foodstuffs and feedstuffs fell less than a
month ago.  The index for basic industrial materials advanced in January
after showing no change in December.  Prices for crude energy materials
rose substantially, though less than in the prior month.  (See table B.)

     The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs fell 1.0 percent after
declining 2.7 percent in the prior month.  Prices for slaughter cattle fell
1.4 percent after declining 4.5 percent in December.  The index for corn
also fell less than the previous month.  Prices for soybeans, fresh and dry
vegetables, and slaughter hogs turned up after falling the previous month.
Conversely, the indexes for slaughter broilers and fryers, fresh fruits and
melons, and slaughter turkeys fell after rising in December.

     The index for crude nonfood materials less energy rose 2.0 percent
after remaining unchanged in the previous month.  Prices for iron and steel
scrap rose 6.4 percent after declining 0.8 percent the prior month.  The
indexes for wastepaper and softwood logs, bolts and timber also turned up
after falling in December.  Prices for aluminum base scrap rose more than a
month ago.  By contrast, the index for raw cotton fell 6.6 percent after
increasing 1.0 percent the previous month.  Prices for nonferrous metal
ores and for construction sand and gravel also turned down after rising in
December.
     
     The index for crude energy materials increased 12.9 percent after
advancing 16.5 percent in the previous month.  The index for natural gas
rose 21.6 percent after rising 34.1 percent in December.  By contrast,
prices for coal turned up 3.0 percent after decreasing 0.4 percent a month
earlier.  The index for crude petroleum rose more than in December.

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 10.1 percent in January following a 12.8 percent
increase in December.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.)  In January, prices for the oil and gas extraction industry
group moved up 12.5 percent after increasing 17.0 percent in the previous
month.  The index for the metal mining industry group turned down 0.2
percent after rising the same amount in December.  By contrast, the indexes
for the nonmetallic minerals mining industry group and for the bituminous
coal and lignite mining industry group turned up in January after falling
in December.  In January, the Producer Price Index for Total Mining
Industries stood at 109.8 (December 1984=100), 38.8 percent higher than a
year earlier.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for total domestic manufacturing
industries edged up 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month.  The
largest increases were for the industry groups for leather products (1.1
percent), printing and publishing (0.9 percent), and for lumber and wood
products (0.5 percent).  Prices also rose for the industry groups for
measuring instruments, non-electrical machinery, and for furniture and
fixtures.  The index for the transportation equipment industry group edged
up 0.1 percent.  By contrast, declines were registered in January for the
industry groups for petroleum refining (-0.2 percent),  food and kindred
products (-0.6 percent), and for paper products (-0.2 percent).  The index
for the net output of the domestic manufacturing sector stood at 128.2
(December 1984=100), 1.9 percent higher than its year-earlier level.
                                    -5-
Other.  Among other industries in January, prices turned up after falling
in December for non-local trucking, water transportation of freight (not
elsewhere classified), air passenger transportation, freight transportation
arrangement, cable and other pay television services, ferrous metal scrap
collection, recovered paper collection, other waste material collection,
hotels and motels, and for passenger car rental.  Price increases
accelerated in January for general warehousing and storage, marine cargo
handling, telephone communications (except radiophone), natural gas
utilities, nonferrous scrap collection, offices and clinics of doctors of
medicine, skilled and intermediate care facilities, and other specialty
hospitals.  Price declines slowed for truck rental and leasing.   Prices
rose after showing no change in the previous month for courier services
(except by air), farm product warehousing and storage, general medical and
surgical hospitals, and for accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services.

     By contrast, prices turned down after rising a month earlier for
railroad line-haul operations, deep sea domestic transportation of freight,
and for airports and airport services.  Price increases slowed from
December to January for advertising agencies.  Prices for radio
broadcasting fell more than a month ago.
     
                                   *****
            Producer Price Index data for February 1997 will be
            released on Friday, March 14, at 8:30 a.m. (E.S.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.

               Recalculation of seasonal adjustment factors
                                     
     Effective with this release, seasonal adjustment factors have been
recalculated to reflect 1996 price movement patterns for stage-of-
processing (SOP) and commodity groupings.  This routine annual
recalculation may affect seasonally adjusted indexes and percent changes
from January 1992 to the present.  Revised seasonally adjusted data for
this period, as well as seasonal factors for commodity indexes to be used
through December 1997, are available on request from BLS.  The table below
shows 1996 monthly seasonally adjusted percent changes for the three major
SOP categories calculated with the old seasonal factors, compared with the
percent changes for recalculated indexes.  The latter incorporate new
seasonal factors that reflect 1996 price movement patterns.
     
Over-the-month percent changes in major stage-of-processing indexes,
seasonally adjusted, using former and recalculated seasonal factors for
1996

         Finished Goods      Intermediate Goods   Crude Goods
Month    Former Recalculated Former Recalculated  Former Recalculated
January    0.2      0.1        0.2       0.0       2.3       2.5
February  -0.1      0         -0.5      -0.4       1.6       1.9
March      0.5      0.5        0.1       0.2      -1.4      -1.2
April      0.2      0.2        0.4       0.3       4.5       4.0
May        0.2      0.2        0.5       0.4       1.1       1.1
June       0.2      0.3       -0.5      -0.3      -2.1      -2.4
July      -0.1      0         -0.3      -0.2       2.7       2.2
August     0.4      0.3        0.2       0.2       0.7       0.6
September  0.2      0.2        0.2       0.2      -2.7      -2.5
October    0.4      0.4        0         0        -0.6      -0.9
November   0.4      0.2        0.2       0.1       1.8       1.7
December   0.5      0.6        0.4       0.3       4.2       4.9
                                    -6-

                         Resampling of Industries

     Effective with this release, another set of new and resampled
industries is introduced.  Three (3) mining industries, twenty-six (26)
manufacturing industries, and two (2) service industries were resampled
this month.  In addition, four (4) other service industries were introduced
into the PPI sample for the first time.  Indexes for these industries
appear in table 5 of the PPI Detailed Report.

     Under the resampling procedure, the sample for an industry is updated
to reflect current conditions more accurately when the structure,
membership, technology, or product mix of an industry has shifted
significantly.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics published the first results
of this systematic process in July 1986.  Subsequent efforts have been
completed at 6-month intervals.

Standard
Industrial
Classification
(SIC) Code               Industry

1021           Copper ores
1442           Construction sand and gravel
1446           Industrial sand

2086           Bottled and canned soft drinks
2092           Prepared fresh or frozen fish and seafoods
2281           Spun yarn
2282           Texturing, throwing, and winding mill products:
                  cotton, manmade fibers, silk, and wool
2321           Men's and boys' suits and coats
2542           Partitions and fixtures, except wood
2752           Commercial printing, lithographic
2754           Commercial printing, gravure
2759           Commercial printing, n.e.c.
2841           Soap and other detergents
2842           Specialty cleaning, polishing, and sanitation preparations
2843           Surface-active agents
2851           Paints and allied products

3331           Primary copper
3398           Metal heat treating
3412           Metal shipping barrels, drums, kegs, and pails
3451           Screw machine parts
3536           Overhead traveling cranes, hoists, and monorail systems
3543           Industrial patterns
3564           Industrial and commercial fans and blowers and air
purification
                 equipment
3565           Packing, packaging and bottling machinery
3578           Calculating and accounting machines
3613           Switchgear and switchgear apparatus
3651           Household audio and video equipment
3674*               Semiconductors and related devices
                                    -7-
4011           Railroads, line-haul operating
4412           Deep sea foreign transportation of freight
8082**         Home health care services
8111**         Legal services
8711**         Engineering design, analysis, and consulting services
8712**         Architectural design, analysis, and consulting services

*The publication structure for this industry is changing, though the
industry has not been resampled.  See " Changes in the PPI for
Semiconductors" in the January 1997 issue of the Producer Price Index
Detailed Report.

**New industries, effective January 1997.  See "New Producer Price Indexes
for Home Health Care and Professional Services" in the January 1997 issue
of the Producer Price Index Detailed Report.


     For information on specific additions, deletions, and recodes of
indexes that are effective this month, see tables 12 through 18 in the
January 1997 issue of the Producer Price Index Detailed Report.







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|                       |Jan. 1997 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|_______________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |           Sept.  |Dec.   |Jan.   |  Jan. | Dec.  |Oct. to|Nov.  to |Dec.  to
                                                 |   1996 1/|1996 2/|1996 2/|1997 2/|  1996 | 1996  |  Nov. |   Dec.  |  Jan.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|____________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   131.8   132.7   132.6     2.5   -0.1      0.2      0.6    -0.3
  Finished consumer goods........................|   76.405   130.4   131.2   131.1     3.1    -.1       .3       .7     -.3
    Finished consumer foods......................|   23.635   135.6   135.5   134.0     2.5   -1.1      0        -.1    -1.0
      Crude......................................|    1.628   128.2   133.8   129.1     3.3   -3.5      1.4      -.2    -3.9
      Processed..................................|   22.007   136.2   135.5   134.3     2.4    -.9      -.1      -.1     -.8
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   52.770   128.0   129.2   129.6     3.3     .3       .5      1.0     0
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   36.380   124.6   125.1   125.8     4.7     .6       .6      1.4     0
      Durable goods..............................|   16.390   132.4   135.0   135.0      .6    0         .1       .1     -.1
  Capital equipment..............................|   23.595   137.3   138.8   139.0      .5     .1       .1       .1     0
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.031   136.7   137.5   137.8      .4     .2      0         .1      .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.564   137.5   139.1   139.3      .4     .1       .2       .1     -.1
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   126.7   126.1   126.4     1.0     .2       .1       .3      .2
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   49.074   128.6   128.5   128.6     -.7     .1      0         .1      .1
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.392   129.2   126.6   125.2     3.7   -1.1     -1.3      -.2     -.8
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   15.604   130.0   130.0   130.2    -2.3     .2       .1       .1      .1
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.977   131.2   131.6   132.0     -.2     .3       .3       .5      .2
    Components for manufacturing.................|   19.101   126.8   126.6   126.8     -.4     .2      0        -.1      .1
  Materials and components for construction......|   12.682   144.8   144.8   145.0     2.2     .1       .4      0        .1
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   13.627    93.6    92.5    93.5     9.7    1.1       .4      2.4     1.0
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    5.387    95.0    94.5    96.4    10.0    2.0      1.8      1.4     1.4
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.240    92.6    91.1    91.7     9.7     .7      -.4      3.0      .8
  Containers.....................................|    3.536   138.5   138.3   137.9    -7.0    -.3       .1      0       0
  Supplies.......................................|   21.081   136.8   135.5   135.6      .2     .1      -.3      0       0
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.539   139.1   139.0   139.0      .5    0        -.1       .1     0
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   13.542   135.6   133.8   133.9      .1     .1      -.4      -.1     0
      Feeds......................................|    1.610   141.7   128.8   127.8      .6    -.8     -3.7      -.2     -.7
      Other supplies.............................|   11.932   134.8   134.5   134.8      .1     .2      -.1      0        .1
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   112.9   118.9   125.2    15.1    5.3      1.7      4.9     5.2
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   38.897   124.9   113.7   112.4    -2.0   -1.1     -2.2     -2.7    -1.0
  Nonfood materials..............................|   61.103   100.8   118.0   129.1    28.1    9.4      4.7     10.5     9.3
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   37.004   107.1   109.2   112.8     8.6    3.3     -1.7      1.4     3.1
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   33.419    99.0   101.0   104.6     9.5    3.6     -2.0      1.4     3.4
      Construction...............................|    3.585   196.0   198.4   200.7      .9    1.2      1.4      -.1      .9
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   24.099    80.5   121.9   144.9    68.3   18.9     19.8     28.2    18.9
      Manufacturing industries...................|    4.923    80.0   116.8   137.3    61.5   17.6     17.5     25.9    17.6
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   19.176    81.6   124.9   148.8    70.1   19.1     20.2     29.0    19.1
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.365   130.5   131.8   132.1     2.4     .2       .3       .8     0
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 94.998   126.3   126.1   126.4      .8     .2       .2       .4      .2
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  5.002   133.5   127.6   126.3     2.7   -1.0     -2.1      -.2     -.8
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 58.958   100.1   117.9   129.5    29.8    9.8      4.9     10.8     9.8
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 14.743    85.3    85.9    86.7    10.4     .9      1.5      3.4     -.2
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 85.257   139.6   140.6   140.3     1.2    -.2       .1       .1     -.3
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.662   140.5   141.3   140.8     1.5    -.4      0        0       -.4
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 61.622   141.1   142.6   142.7      .6     .1       .1       .1     0
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.027   143.5   144.9   145.1      .8     .1      0         .1     0
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.637   151.5   151.9   152.3     1.1     .3      0         .1      .1
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 13.751    93.3    92.1    93.3     9.8    1.3       .4      2.2     1.1
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 86.249   133.9   133.6   133.6     -.4    0        0         .1     0
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.247   133.9   133.9   134.1     -.5     .1       .1       .1      .1
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 41.094    81.0   103.8   117.2    50.1   12.9      7.7     16.5    12.9
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 58.905   131.7   123.4   123.5    -2.6     .1     -1.6     -1.9     0
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 20.009   153.5   152.4   156.1    -3.7    2.4      -.5      0       2.0
                                                 |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
  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 Sept. 1996 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 four 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 |                                                       |                       |Jan. 1997 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Sept.  |Dec.   |Jan.   | Jan.  | Dec.  |Oct. to|Nov. to|Dec. to
           |                                                       |1996 1/|1996 1/|1997 1/| 1996  | 1996  |  Nov. |  Dec. |  Jan.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 131.8   132.7   132.6     2.5   -0.1      0.2     0.6    -0.3
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 130.4   131.2   131.1     3.1    -.1       .3      .7     -.3
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 135.6   135.5   134.0     2.5   -1.1      0       -.1    -1.0
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................| 119.5   116.0   109.0    29.8   -6.0    -17.7    11.8    -6.0
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 106.4   104.3   108.7   -25.5    4.2     16.6   -21.4     4.2
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100) 2/...............| 107.7   129.9   104.2     1.9  -19.8     12.0    13.3   -19.8
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 171.3   173.0   172.9     4.0    -.1       .1      .1     -.1
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 133.5   127.0   127.0    -1.1    0       -1.6      .2     0
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 128.2   128.0   128.3     1.3     .2       .4     -.3      .2
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................| 103.6   106.6   102.1     4.4   -4.2       .8    -1.0    -3.8
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 125.5   126.9   122.9    20.7   -3.2      1.8     2.6    -2.1
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 127.7   125.8   121.0     2.8   -3.8      1.0      .6    -3.2
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys 2/................................| 105.9   102.2    97.6    -6.4   -4.5     -1.3    -1.2    -4.5
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 157.4   174.2   183.4     6.3    5.3      1.4     1.3     1.5
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 139.7   131.5   128.8     3.8   -2.1     -3.9    -2.0     -.5
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 128.6   128.4   128.0     1.6    -.3      -.2     -.1     -.3
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 167.9   167.1   167.7     1.6     .4       .2     -.1      .4
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 134.2   134.6   134.7     0       .1      -.2     0      -1.0
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 127.6   127.5   127.9    -4.9     .3       .3      .2      .3
02-76      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 140.6   135.6   136.8    -1.8     .9     -3.4      .4      .9
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 128.0   129.2   129.6     3.3     .3       .5     1.0     0
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 132.0   133.9   135.2     3.5    1.0       .1     0        .6
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 120.4   119.8   119.9      .2     .1      -.7     0        .1
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 131.9   132.2   132.3      .5     .1      0        .1     -.2
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 123.1   124.3   124.3     1.6    0        0        .4     0
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 123.4   123.8   123.3     2.4    -.4      -.1      .1     -.4
04-3       |   Footwear............................................| 142.0   142.4   143.1     1.8     .5      0        .1      .3
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 116.9   110.4   110.7      .6     .3      0       -.1     -.1
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 109.8   117.1   123.6    15.6    5.6      4.2      .9     5.0
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  73.6    77.0    76.7    19.7    -.4      3.6     4.0     2.6
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  72.8    78.3    75.8    17.9   -3.2      0       5.0    -2.8
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription)........| 266.5   268.0   270.1     3.0     .8       .1      .2     1.2
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter).....| 183.3   184.6   185.2    -1.5     .3       .2      .2      .3
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 125.2   125.2   125.4     1.1     .2      -.1     -.3      .2
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 129.7   129.7   129.9     -.8     .2      1.0     0        .2
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  97.3    95.9    97.1    -1.3    1.3       .1     0       1.3
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 148.0   148.9   147.3    -3.2   -1.1      -.7      .9    -1.1
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation...............................| 200.9   201.8   201.8     3.3    0        -.2      .5     -.5
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 178.3   181.3   183.2     1.9    1.0      -.4      .2      .2
09-33      |   Book publishing 2/..................................| 195.8   197.9   198.0     3.6     .1      -.1     1.2      .1
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 144.7   145.1   145.3     1.2     .1       .3     -.1      .1
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 128.0   126.7   127.4     2.0     .6      -.8     -.1      .6
12-4       |   Household appliances 2/.............................| 112.5   111.6   111.5     -.8    -.1      -.3     -.8     -.1
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  79.0    78.6    78.4    -1.3    -.3      0       -.4     -.3
12-62      |   Household glassware 2/..............................| 158.1   158.0   158.4     2.1     .3      0        .1      .3
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 137.8   138.6   138.6     -.2    0        0        .7     0
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 132.6   132.5   132.9      .9     .3      -.2      .2      .3
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 130.4   137.0   136.5      .2    -.4       .4      .1     -.4
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 125.4   125.2   125.8      .8     .5      -.1     0        .2
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 123.7   123.7   124.3     1.4     .5      -.2     -.2      .5
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 238.2   239.4   239.6     2.7     .1      -.1      .3      .1
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 150.4   151.1   151.0     1.7    -.1       .4     -.1     -.1
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 129.1   129.2   128.5     -.7    -.5      -.2     -.3     -.5
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 137.7   138.5   138.6     2.7     .1      0       0        .1
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 137.3   138.8   139.0      .5     .1       .1      .1     0
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 147.0   146.3   146.9      .6     .4       .2     -.1      .4
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 140.1   140.5   141.7     2.1     .9       .2     0        .4
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 153.3   154.7   154.3     2.5    -.3       .1      .3     -.3
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 150.3   150.9   150.9     2.4    0         .1      .3     0
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 136.5   137.3   137.3     1.5    0         .1      .5     0
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 143.7   144.2   144.7     1.6     .3       .2      .2     -.3
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 127.7   128.2   128.6     1.8     .3       .3      .2      .3
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............|  40.9    38.4    38.3   -19.9    -.3     -2.0    -2.3     -.3
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 148.2   149.4   151.1     2.6    1.1      -.5      .1     1.1
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 154.2   155.1   155.2     1.7     .1       .3      .3     -.2
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 137.4   138.3   138.5     2.4     .1       .1     -.1      .1
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 129.2   129.0   129.2    -1.4     .2      -.2     -.1      .2
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 113.1   113.1   113.9      .9     .7     -1.1     1.1      .7
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 109.6   108.5   108.4    -2.6    -.1      0       -.5     -.1
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery 2/................| 118.1   119.4   121.0     3.5    1.3       .3      .5     1.3
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 139.7   138.6   138.3      .8    -.2      -.9      .1     -.2
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 111.8   111.7   111.7     -.8    0        -.1     0       0
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 151.8   152.9   153.3     1.8     .3       .4      .1      .3
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 154.1   163.0   163.2     1.2     .1       .1      .1      .4
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks..................................| 142.6   143.1   140.9    -3.3   -1.5      1.6      .3    -1.8
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 130.0   130.2   130.1    -1.5    -.1       .2     0       -.1
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 148.5   148.9   149.3     2.8     .3       .8      .3     -.3
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 139.2   139.9   142.7     5.5    2.0     -3.9      .6     2.0
14-4       |   Railroad equipment..................................| 137.0   136.5   136.3     -.3    -.1      -.2      .1     -.1
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 126.7   126.1   126.4     1.0     .2       .1      .3      .2
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 133.5   127.6   126.3     2.7   -1.0     -2.1     -.2     -.8
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 125.3   123.7   121.1    -9.1   -2.1     -4.1     1.0    -2.1
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 125.5   125.2   126.3     4.4     .9       .2      .9      .9
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................| 108.4   110.9   109.9     2.2    -.9       .3      .6     -.1
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 120.4   110.5   115.0    -2.3    4.1     -1.3      .5     4.1
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 142.8   132.5   131.6     1.9    -.7     -2.8      .5     -.7
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 126.3   126.1   126.4      .8     .2       .2      .4      .2
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 112.1   111.9   113.3     2.1    1.3       .3     0       1.3
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 116.4   114.8   114.9      .4     .1     -1.2     0        .1
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 121.3   121.7   121.4      .5    -.2      -.2      .9     -.2
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 123.8   123.7   123.8      .6     .1       .3      .1     -.3
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 128.1   128.4   127.5     4.8    -.7       .1      .4     -.7
04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 176.0   179.4   182.5      .1    1.7      3.9     -.1     1.3
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  88.4   112.2   118.5    62.3    5.6     10.9     9.3     5.6
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 |                                                       |                       |Jan. 1997 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Sept.  |Dec.   |Jan.   | Jan.  | Dec.  |Oct. to|Nov. to|Dec. to
           |                                                       |1996 1/|1996 1/|1997 1/| 1996  | 1996  |  Nov. |  Dec. |  Jan.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 139.5   127.2   127.7     0.1    0.4      0.4    -0.6     0.4
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 136.2   127.4   128.1      .2     .5      1.9    -1.8      .4
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............|  99.7   113.7   122.0    19.8    7.3      1.6     6.5     6.0
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............|  96.9   110.1   131.5    37.8   19.4      2.9     5.3    17.5
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  85.9    99.2   111.7    22.1   12.6     -9.7    18.3    13.8
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  73.0    75.1    74.6    18.8    -.7     -5.5     5.2     3.2
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  74.7    76.8    73.1    17.5   -4.8     -5.8     5.2    -2.0
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  58.4    62.0    66.1    18.5    6.6      -.2    -1.6     6.6
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 127.9   128.6   128.0     2.6    -.5       .5      .5     -.5
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 149.2   150.2   150.1     3.9    -.1       .1     2.2     -.3
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 139.6   139.8   140.5    -1.4     .5      -.2     -.4      .5
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 128.8   128.8   129.5     1.5     .5       .1     0        .5
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 160.8   137.6   150.6    13.8    9.4    -13.4    10.2     9.4
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 114.2   112.8   112.7     -.8    -.1       .1     -.2    -1.7
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 123.2   134.7   135.1     1.0     .3       .7     1.3    -2.2
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 112.3   111.2   112.8    -5.4    1.4      2.4    -2.0     1.4
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals........................| 147.2   146.4   146.1     -.1    -.2       .2     -.3     -.6
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 137.9   138.1   137.2     5.6    -.7      -.1     -.1     -.7
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 121.4   122.2   122.1    -1.9    -.1      0        .3     -.1
07-21      |   Plastic construction products 2/....................| 131.2   129.1   127.2    -2.5   -1.5       .2     -.7    -1.5
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes.....| 132.8   133.1   132.5    -1.0    -.5      -.1     -.5     -.3
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.4   117.4   117.4      .3    0        0        .1     0
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 203.9   202.8   204.3    20.7     .7      5.4    -1.0      .7
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber 2/..................................| 163.5   165.9   168.4     3.0    1.5       .3      .5     1.5
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 168.7   169.2   169.8     3.8     .4       .3     -.1      .4
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 166.7   155.7   154.6      .4    -.7     -2.0    -1.3     -.7
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 127.8   127.2   128.7   -27.1    1.2      -.6     -.6     1.2
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 143.5   141.2   140.9   -13.6    -.2      -.7     0       -.2
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 145.6   148.3   148.4   -15.5     .1      1.0     -.1      .1
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 148.6   147.9   148.0   -10.5     .1       .3     -.1      .1
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 140.5   133.6   132.0    -4.7   -1.2     -1.8    -1.9    -1.2
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 148.8   147.9   147.9      .3    0        -.4      .4     0
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 132.7   132.9   133.4     1.4     .4       .1      .1      .1
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 116.3   116.0   115.7     -.8    -.3       .2     -.4     -.3
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 116.5   121.4   124.5    -9.5    2.6      1.0     4.8     2.6
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 142.0   140.6   142.5    -5.5    1.4     -1.1     1.2     1.4
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 169.6   176.4   178.6    -5.4    1.2      1.5     1.7     1.2
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 145.0   147.1   147.9    -1.4     .5      -.1     1.0      .5
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 109.5   109.1   107.9    -6.3   -1.1      -.1      .6    -1.1
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 144.2   144.2   144.8     1.4     .4      -.3      .1      .1
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 171.6   171.6   171.9     2.6     .2       .4      .2     -.2
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 151.8   151.8   152.1     1.3     .2       .1      .1     -.7
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 138.4   138.7   139.0     1.6     .2       .1      .1      .1
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 127.1   126.9   126.9      .9    0         .2     -.4     0
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 125.9   126.1   126.2      .6     .1       .1      .1      .1
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 151.5   152.4   153.4     1.7     .7       .6     -.2     0
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 132.4   132.9   132.6      .5    -.2       .2      .4     -.6
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 149.9   151.2   151.4     2.2     .1       .5      .2      .1
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 157.9   159.0   160.9     2.5    1.2       .3     0        .4
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 151.8   152.1   152.5     2.1     .3       .3      .1      .3
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 145.2   145.6   144.3    -1.1    -.9       .1     -.1    -1.3
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 142.6   144.1   144.6     1.8     .3       .2      .2     -.1
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............| 108.1   107.3   107.0    -4.9    -.3       .1     -.5     -.3
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 139.5   139.6   139.7     1.8     .1       .4     -.1     -.4
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 134.4   134.6   134.9     2.0     .2       .7     -.1      .2
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 109.2   109.7   109.2    -2.5    -.5      -.1      .3     -.5
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 136.3   135.0   136.4     5.5    1.0       .5      .3      .9
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 133.8   134.9   135.1     2.7     .1       .4      .1     -.1
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................| 100.1    99.7    99.7    -1.1    0         .3     -.7     0
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 159.3   164.1   168.5    12.5    2.7      1.1      .1     2.7
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 129.3   129.3   127.9    -1.8   -1.1      0       0      -1.1
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 116.3   115.8   115.4     -.7    -.3      0       -.1     -.3
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 134.7   135.4   136.4     1.0     .7      0        .3      .1
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 139.3   138.3   141.0     1.2    2.0      0        .1     2.0
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 129.7   129.7   129.3     -.6    -.3      0       0       -.3
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 142.1   142.6   143.5     0       .6       .1      .1      .3
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 112.9   118.9   125.2    15.1    5.3      1.7     4.9     5.2
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 124.9   113.7   112.4    -2.0   -1.1     -2.2    -2.7    -1.0
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................| 120.6   114.0   114.7   -16.3     .6     -1.1    -2.8      .6
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................| 145.7   105.6   107.6   -24.1    1.9     -9.5    -7.5     -.1
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle....................................| 102.5    95.5    95.8     -.2     .3     -3.6    -4.5    -1.4
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  90.0    91.3    89.0    28.4   -2.5      8.9    -3.2      .5
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 157.1   157.5   150.8     6.9   -4.3      1.0     5.8    -4.7
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 121.3   125.9    98.9   -13.3  -21.4      1.5     1.3    -5.2
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 119.6   103.2    99.0    -2.4   -4.1     -4.0    -4.6    -2.5
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans............................................| 141.1   115.7   124.4      .3    7.5     -3.5    -3.7     6.5
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 119.4   117.9   117.6     -.3    -.3     -1.3     -.2     -.3
 
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 100.8   118.0   129.1    28.1    9.4      4.7    10.5     9.3
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................| 123.2   120.8   116.6   -14.9   -3.5     -1.9     1.0    -6.6
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 110.5   113.2   116.1     4.2    2.6      (3)     (3)     2.6
04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 186.3   205.0   207.0    19.9    1.0      -.2     0       1.0
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  93.6    94.2    97.0     5.3    3.0       .5     -.4     3.0
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................|  76.6   126.3   153.6    84.0   21.6     25.1    34.1    21.6
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  67.2    71.1    74.0    32.1    4.1     -4.6     3.9     4.1
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc. 2/...............................| 206.0   209.2   213.6     -.4    2.1      1.8    -1.0     2.1
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 142.2   145.6   152.5    -6.7    4.7     -2.7    -1.4     4.7
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  96.7    96.7    99.7     2.2    3.1      0       0       3.1
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 191.7   170.0   180.9    -9.4    6.4     -6.8     -.8     6.4
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  83.5    85.0    84.1   -14.1   -1.1      1.4      .4    -1.1
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 151.9   157.9   169.8    -6.2    7.5       .2     3.6     7.5
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 168.4   174.4   188.9     5.4    8.3      3.8     1.9     7.8
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 146.1   146.3   146.9     1.7     .4       .3      .3     -.2
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
1/  The indexes for  September 1996have been recalculated                            2/  Not seasonally adjusted.
    to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.                      3/  Not available.
    All indexes are subject to revision four months after original
    publication.
 
 
 
 
 
Table 3.  Producer Price Indexes for selected commodity groupings
           (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
          |                                                |                                   |
          |                                                |         Unadjusted index 1/       |
 Commodity|                                                |___________________________________|
   code   |                    Grouping                    |Sept. 1996 | Dec. 1996 | Jan. 1997 |
 _________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   369.8   |   372.3   |   372.2   |
          | All commodities................................|   128.2   |   128.8   |   129.7   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   132.4   |   128.0   |   126.9   |
 01       |   Farm products................................|   125.1   |   114.7   |   113.0   |
 02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   136.0   |   134.6   |   133.8   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Industrial commodities.........................|   127.4   |   128.9   |   130.2   |
 03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   123.0   |   122.8   |   122.8   |
 04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   150.2   |   153.7   |   155.1   |
 05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    87.1   |    92.0   |    95.7   |
 06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   143.3   |   143.6   |   143.7   |
 07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   124.1   |   123.6   |   123.4   |
 08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   180.2   |   179.6   |   180.9   |
 09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   166.9   |   166.9   |   167.5   |
 10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   130.0   |   130.0   |   130.8   |
 11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   126.3   |   126.1   |   126.5   |
 12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   130.6   |   130.5   |   130.8   |
 13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   131.6   |   132.1   |   132.4   |
 14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   140.0   |   142.5   |   142.7   |
 15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   147.9   |   148.4   |   148.9   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
          |   products and power...........................|   138.4   |   138.8   |   139.1   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
 01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
          |   and tree nuts................................|   122.4   |   118.0   |   115.4   |
 01-2     | Grains.........................................|   138.7   |   109.6   |   111.1   |
 01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|   100.5   |    95.8   |    95.4   |
 01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   147.4   |   149.0   |   138.1   |
 01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|   122.8   |   120.4   |   116.4   |
 01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   134.0   |   161.8   |   125.8   |
 01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   158.1   |   138.9   |   147.6   |
 01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   151.9   |   126.5   |   134.7   |
 01-9     | Other farm products............................|   164.8   |   168.8   |   173.1   |
 02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   159.0   |   158.5   |   158.0   |
 02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   118.9   |   121.2   |   119.0   |
 02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   123.6   |   122.1   |   118.5   |
 02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   138.5   |   138.5   |   138.8   |
 02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   134.2   |   135.0   |   135.7   |
 02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   126.3   |   126.2   |   126.5   |
 02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   133.6   |   126.0   |   129.3   |
 03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.3   |   125.2   |   125.4   |
 04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   141.2   |   141.2   |   141.9   |
 05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|    78.7   |   121.0   |   142.5   |
 05-4     | Electric power.................................|   137.3   |   128.0   |   128.5   |
 05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    72.1   |    75.0   |    74.3   |
 06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   215.1   |   215.5   |   216.9   |
 06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   131.1   |   132.8   |   133.3   |
 06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   132.7   |   132.5   |   132.8   |
 07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   116.5   |   116.1   |   116.8   |
 07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   120.7   |   121.5   |   121.5   |
 07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   136.7   |   136.9   |   137.2   |
 07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   131.0   |   130.4   |   129.8   |
 08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   189.6   |   189.6   |   191.3   |
 09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
          |   paper and board..............................|   145.2   |   145.2   |   145.2   |
 09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   150.4   |   150.7   |   150.3   |
 10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   126.4   |   124.2   |   125.2   |
 10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   131.3   |   133.6   |   135.6   |
 10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   139.9   |   140.4   |   141.9   |
 11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   143.5   |   144.1   |   144.4   |
 11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   142.7   |   143.4   |   143.8   |
 11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   153.9   |   154.3   |   155.3   |
 11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   123.2   |   123.0   |   123.2   |
 11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   129.8   |   129.9   |   130.2   |
 12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   148.4   |   148.7   |   149.4   |
 13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   140.0   |   139.7   |   140.6   |
 14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   131.0   |   134.9   |   134.6   |
 15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   130.8   |   130.7   |   131.4   |
 15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   119.7   |   119.5   |   118.6   |
 15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   132.6   |   132.7   |   133.3   |
 __________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
 
 1/  Data for Sept. 1996 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_Jan._1997_from:__
     code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                   |                                              |     |Sep.   |Dec.   |Jan.   |  Jan.  |  Dec.
                   |                                              |     |1996 2/|1996 2/|1997 2/|  1996  |  1996
 __________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|___________
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  81.3    99.7   109.8    38.8    10.1
        10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  86.8    88.3    88.1   -10.3     -.2
        12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  90.9    91.1    92.8     3.2     1.9
        13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  81.3   106.0   119.2    52.8    12.5
        14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                   |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 127.5   127.1   127.7     1.4      .5
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 127.5   128.1   128.2     1.9      .1
        20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 129.7   128.4   127.6     2.7     -.6
        21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 201.0   201.4   201.5     3.3     0
        22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 118.5   118.5   118.5      .9     0
        23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                   |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 123.0   123.1   123.0     1.3     -.1
        24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 156.6   155.7   156.5     3.9      .5
        25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 136.4   137.0   137.4     1.6      .3
        26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 135.1   134.8   134.5    -9.0     -.2
        27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 166.1   166.4   167.9     2.1      .9
        28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 146.8   147.0   147.2     1.8      .1
        29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  89.9    92.9    92.7    16.8     -.2
        30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 123.5   123.0   122.9     -.1     -.1
        31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 135.3   135.2   136.7     1.6     1.1
        32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 126.3   126.8   127.0     1.5      .2
        33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 122.7   123.2   123.5    -1.8      .2
        34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                   |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 126.4   126.6   126.8      .7      .2
        35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 119.1   118.9   119.2     -.4      .3
        36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                   |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 113.0   112.5   112.6    -1.1      .1
        37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 132.1   135.3   135.4      .9      .1
        38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                   |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                   |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.0   125.0   125.4      .2      .3
        39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 128.1   128.3   128.9     1.3      .5
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Services industries                           |     |
        40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96|  (3)    100.0   100.0     (3)     0
        42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 106.6   107.3   108.5     3.2     1.1
        43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3   132.3   132.3     0       0
        44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 103.8   104.1   104.8      .9      .7
        45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 121.9   122.2   128.5     9.6     5.2
        46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86| 101.0   103.9    98.8   -10.7    -4.9
        80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 104.8   105.2   105.7     1.6      .5
                   |                                              |     |
 __________________|______________________________________________|_____|____________________________________________
 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 Sep. 1996 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.
    All indexes are subject to revision four months  after original publication.
 3/ Not available.
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.