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http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   MAY 12, 2000
                                     
                                     
                   Producer Price Indexes -- April 2000

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods declined 0.3 percent in
April, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This decrease followed increases of
1.0 percent in February and March.  The index for finished goods other than
foods and energy rose 0.1 percent, the same as a month ago.  Prices
received by producers of intermediate goods fell 0.1 percent, after posting
a 0.9-percent gain in the prior month.  The crude goods index turned down
2.5 percent, following a 1.8-percent advance a month earlier.  (See table
A.)

Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-
processing price indexes, seasonally adjusted

                                                       
                    Finished
                      goods
                                                             
                                     Change in            
                                     finished       
                            Except    goods
                             foods   from 12    Inter- 
                              and     months    mediate  Crude
Month  Total  Foods  Energy energy     ago       goods   goods
                                     (unadj.)
  1999                                                       
Apr.      0.5   -0.8    5.1     0.1     1.2       0.7      2.1
May        .1     .1     .3      .1     1.4        .3      5.7
June       .1     .6    -.1       0     1.5        .3       .2
July       .2    -.4    2.7     -.1     1.5        .7       .2
Aug.       .6     .5    3.3      .1     2.3        .5      5.1
Sept.      .8     .7    2.1      .6     3.1        .5      4.6
Oct.        0    -.3    -.4      .2     2.8        .2     -2.4
Nov.       .1    -.2    1.1     -.1     3.1        .2      5.2
Dec.      r.1     r0    r.7      .1    r2.9       r.3    r-4.9
                                                            
  2000                                                      
Jan.      r.1    r.2    r.9     -.2     2.5       r.6     r3.1
Feb.      1.0     .4    5.2      .3     4.0        .8      4.2
Mar.      1.0     .1    5.8      .1     4.5        .9      1.8
Apr.      -.3    1.0   -4.1      .1     3.9       -.1     -2.5
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in 
this release may differ from those previously reported because 
data for December 1999 have been revised to reflect the 
availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -2-

     Among finished goods in April, prices for finished energy goods fell
4.1 percent, after registering a 5.8-percent increase in March.  This
downturn marks the largest decrease in finished energy goods since a 5.0-
percent drop in February 1991.  By contrast, the index for finished
consumer foods rose 1.0 percent, following a 0.1-percent gain a month ago.
Capital equipment prices advanced 0.2 percent, after rising 0.1 percent in
March.  The index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy
rose 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month.
     
     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods showed no change to remain at 137.0 (1982=100).  From April 1999 to
April 2000, finished goods prices gained 3.9 percent.  Over the preceding
12 months, the index for finished energy goods increased 18.7 percent,
finished goods other than foods and energy advanced 1.3 percent, and
finished consumer foods rose 2.8 percent.  Prices received by producers of
intermediate goods increased 5.3 percent for the 12 months ended April, and
the index for crude goods advanced 21.4 percent during the same period.

Finished goods

     Prices for finished energy goods declined 4.1 percent in April, after
registering a 5.8-percent gain in March.  The gasoline index fell 11.7
percent in April, following a 14.9-percent advance in the prior month.
April's drop in gasoline prices was the largest decline since a 13.2-
percent decrease in August 1989.  The indexes for liquefied petroleum gas
and diesel fuel also declined, after rising a month ago.  Home heating oil
prices fell more than a month earlier.  Conversely, the index for
residential natural gas increased 1.6 percent, following a 0.7-percent gain
in March.  Prices for lubricating and similar oils also rose more than in
the previous month.

Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for 
intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted
                                                        
           Intermediate                 Crude goods
              goods
                                                        
                             Change in                         
                            intermediate                         Change in 
                     Exclud-   goods                             crude goods
                      ing      from                   Excluding     from
                     foods   12 months                  foods    12 months
                      and      ago             Energy    and        ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy  (unadj.)   Foods (unadj.)  energy    (unadj.)

  1999                                                                  
Apr.     -1.9    5.1    0.2    -1.4     -3.7    12.6     -0.5       -9.2
May        .2     .4     .2    -1.1      1.8    13.2      1.7       -3.1
June       .5     .4     .3     -.4        0       0       .5        -.2
July     -1.0    2.8     .5      .3     -3.9     4.3      1.4        -.2
Aug.      1.3    2.5     .2     1.1      3.6     8.6      1.9        9.3
Sept.     1.0    1.9     .1     2.0      1.3     9.3      1.8       16.5
Oct.       .8    -.8     .2     2.2       .1    -7.0      2.4       10.6
Nov.      -.6    1.8     .1     2.8      1.0    11.5      1.0       16.7
Dec.    r-1.9   r1.4    r.1    r3.7    r-2.0  r-11.1     r2.5      r15.3
                                                                   
  2000                                                            
Jan.      r.3   r2.0    r.4     4.1      r.6    r5.7     r2.9       18.0
Feb.       .6    4.2     .2     5.3       .7    10.0      -.2       26.1
Mar.       .5    4.2     .4     6.0      3.5     1.2      -.2       27.3
Apr.       .8   -2.9     .4     5.3      1.7    -6.9     -1.2       21.4
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for December 1999 
have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and 
corrections by respondents.

                                    -3-
                                     
     The finished consumer foods index advanced 1.0 percent in April, after
posting a 0.1-percent gain in March.  This rise marks the largest jump in
finished consumer foods prices since a 1.5-percent increase in January
1999.  Leading the advance, the index for eggs for fresh use gained 41.6
percent, following a 30.6-percent decline in the prior month.  Prices for
finfish and shellfish and for shortening and cooking oils also turned up,
after falling a month earlier.  The indexes for dairy products, beef and
veal, and processed young chickens rose more than in the previous month.
By contrast, prices for fresh and dry vegetables gained 2.5 percent in
April, following a 13.8-percent advance in March.  The pork index also rose
less than a month ago.  Roasted coffee prices fell, after increasing a
month ago, and prices for processed fruits and vegetables fell more in
April than in the previous month.

     The capital equipment index advanced 0.2 percent, after registering a
0.1-percent gain in March.  Prices for civilian aircraft, communication and
related equipment, x-ray and electromedical equipment, truck trailers, and
heavy motor trucks rose in April.  These increases outweighed falling
prices for electronic computers, light motor trucks, calculating and
accounting machines, and metal cutting machine tools.

     In April, the index for finished consumer goods other than foods and
energy edged up 0.1 percent, the same rate of increase as in March.  Price
increases for passenger cars, prescription drugs, alcoholic beverages,
household furniture, newspaper circulation, and tires slightly outweighed
declining prices for book publishing, women's apparel, light motor trucks,
floor coverings, and household appliances.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components turned down 0.1 percent in April, after posting a 0.9-percent
gain in March.  This marks the first one-month decline for the intermediate
goods index since a 0.2-percent decrease in February 1999.  A downturn in
prices for intermediate energy goods was the main cause of April's
deceleration for intermediate goods.  The indexes for nondurable
manufacturing materials and construction materials rose less than in the
previous month.  By contrast, prices for durable manufacturing materials
advanced 0.3 percent, after showing no change a month ago.  The
intermediate foods and feeds index rose more than in the prior month.
Excluding foods and energy, the index for intermediate materials gained 0.4
percent, following a 0.4-percent rise in March.  (See table B.)

     Prices for intermediate energy goods fell 2.9 percent in April, after
registering a 4.2-percent advance in March.  The gasoline index dropped
11.7 percent, following a 14.9-percent jump in the previous month.  Prices
for liquefied petroleum gas, diesel fuel, and jet fuels also turned down,
after rising a month earlier.  The residual fuel index rose less than a
month ago.  By contrast, prices for industrial electric power turned up 0.6
percent, following a 0.3-percent decline in the prior month.  The indexes
for commercial natural gas and industrial natural gas increased more than
in the previous month.
     
     In April, the index for nondurable manufacturing materials registered
a 0.6-percent increase, after gaining 1.2-percent in March.  Rising prices
for plastic resins and materials, paperboard, paper, basic inorganic
chemicals, gray fabrics, medicinal and botanical chemicals, and woodpulp
outweighed falling prices for primary basic organic chemicals, phosphates,
inedible fats and oils, and nitrogenates.
     
     Prices for materials and components for construction rose 0.1 percent
in April, following a 0.3-percent increase a month earlier.  Advancing
prices for asphalt felts and coatings, millwork, plywood, switchgear, steel
wire, and wiring devices outweighed declining prices for softwood lumber,
plastic construction products, gypsum products, nonferrous wire and cable,
cement, and fabricated ferrous wire products.

                                    -4-
                                     
     Prices for durable manufacturing materials gained 0.3 percent in
April, after showing no change in March.  The hot rolled sheet and strip
index rose 2.2 percent, following a 0.4-percent rise a month ago.  Prices
for semi-finished steel mill products, flat glass, silver, and prepared
paint turned up, after falling a month earlier.  By contrast, the aluminum
extrusion billet index declined 2.7 percent, following a 0.9-percent
decrease in the prior month.  Aluminum mill shape prices fell, after
showing no change in the previous month.  The cement index decreased more
than in March.  Prices for cold rolled sheet and strip, plywood, building
paper and board, and hardwood lumber rose less than a month ago.
     
     The intermediate foods and feeds index advanced 0.8 percent in April,
after posting a 0.5-percent rise in March.  Prices for fluid milk products
rose 5.0 percent, following a 0.7-percent increase in the prior month.  The
indexes for other beverage materials, crude vegetable oils, and beef and
veal also increased more than in the previous month.  By contrast, prices
for prepared animal feeds turned down 0.4 percent, after rising 1.0 percent
a month ago.  The confectionery materials index also fell, following an
advance a month earlier.  Refined sugar prices fell more than in the prior
month.  The pork index rose less than in the previous month.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
fell 2.5 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, after increasing 1.8
percent in March.  Prices for crude energy materials turned down, after
rising in the prior month.  The crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs index rose
less than in the previous month.  Prices for basic industrial materials
fell more than a month ago.  (See table B.)

     Prices for crude energy materials fell 6.9 percent in April, after
posting a 1.2-percent increase in March.  The index for crude petroleum
turned down 23.7 percent, after increasing 5.1 percent in the previous
month.  The coal index moved down 1.9 percent in April, following a 2.1-
percent rise in March.  By contrast, the natural gas index turned up 8.7
percent, after falling 2.7 percent last month.

     Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs increased 1.7 percent in
April, after rising 3.5 percent in March.  The slaughter cattle index rose
1.5 percent, following a 6.1-percent advance a month earlier.  Price
increases also slowed from March to April for slaughter hogs, soybeans, and
raw cane sugar.  The indexes for corn, slaughter turkeys, and unprocessed
shellfish fell, after rising in March.  Wheat prices fell more in April
than in the prior month.  By contrast, the index for unprocessed finfish
increased 42.0 percent, after falling 24.9 percent last month.  Price
increases accelerated for slaughter broilers and fryers, alfalfa hay, and
fluid milk.  The index for fresh fruits and melons fell less than in March.
     
     Basic industrial material prices fell 1.2 percent in April, following
a 0.2-percent decline in March.  The raw cotton index fell 11.6 percent,
following a 6.1-percent increase a month earlier.  Leaf tobacco prices fell
17.3 percent, after decreasing 2.1 percent in the prior month.  The indexes
for gold ores and aluminum base scrap fell more than in March.  Price
increases for wastepaper slowed from 10.5 percent in March to 6.1 percent
in April.  By contrast, the index for copper ores rose 3.3 percent in
April, after declining 2.7 percent in March.  Prices for pulpwood, cattle
hides, copper base scrap, and for construction sand, gravel, and crushed
stone also turned up, after decreasing in the previous month.

                                    -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 dropped 5.2 percent in April, after registering a 2.9-
percent gain in March.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.)  Most of this deceleration was due to falling prices received by
the crude petroleum, natural gas, and natural gas liquids industry, which
declined 7.0 percent, following a 4.1-percent increase in the previous
month.  The index for the bituminous coal and lignite industry also turned
down, after rising a month ago.  By contrast, prices received by the
drilling oil and gas wells industry advanced 2.5 percent in April, after
declining by the same rate in March.  The index for the copper ores
industry also turned up from the prior month.  In April, the Producer Price
Index for the Net Output of Total Domestic Mining Industries stood at 94.9
(December 1984=100), 37.7 percent above its year ago level.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Domestic Manufacturing Industries fell 0.2 percent in April, after posting
a 0.8-percent gain in March.  The index for the petroleum refining and
related products industry group declined 3.9 percent, after gaining 8.2
percent in the prior month.  Prices received by the printing, publishing,
and allied industries group rose less than last month.  Conversely, prices
received by the industry group for food and kindred products rose 0.5
percent in April, after edging up 0.2 percent in March.  The indexes for
the electrical and electronic machinery and the measuring and controlling
instruments industry groups rose, after falling a month ago.  In April, the
Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Domestic Manufacturing
Industries stood at 132.8 (December 1984=100), 4.2 percent higher than its
year-ago level.
                                     
Other.  Among other industries in April, rising prices were observed for
the operators and lessors of nonresidential buildings, scheduled air
transportation, real estate agents and managers, hotels and motels,
property and casualty insurance, and air courier services industries.  By
contrast, declining prices were registered for the telephone communications
(except radiotelephone), life insurance carriers, passenger car rental,
wireless communications, and travel agencies industries.

                                   *****
              Producer Price Index data for May 2000 will be
           released on Friday, June 9, 2000 at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T)

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. 2000 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |           Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   |  Apr. | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb.  to |Mar.  to
                                                 |   1999 1/|1999 2/|2000 2/|2000 2/|  1999 | 2000  |  Feb. |   Mar.  |  Apr.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   134.9   137.0   137.0     3.9    0        1.0      1.0    -0.3
  Finished consumer goods........................|   75.635   134.3   137.0   136.9     5.0    -.1      1.3      1.2     -.5
    Finished consumer foods......................|   22.883   135.6   135.9   137.1     2.8     .9       .4       .1     1.0
      Crude......................................|    1.610   126.3   118.2   125.2    -2.5    5.9      4.2     -3.2     7.9
      Processed..................................|   21.273   136.3   137.3   138.1     3.2     .6       .2       .4      .5
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   52.752   133.6   137.3   136.6     5.9    -.5      1.7      1.7    -1.1
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   36.843   131.7   137.0   136.0     8.2    -.7      2.6      2.3    -1.6
      Durable goods..............................|   15.909   134.4   134.0   133.9      .6    -.1      -.3       .2      .1
  Capital equipment..............................|   24.365   138.3   138.5   138.7      .7     .1      0         .1      .2
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.431   138.8   139.3   139.3      .6    0        0         .1     0
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.934   138.1   138.2   138.4      .7     .1      0         .2      .2
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   125.4   127.9   128.0     5.3     .1       .8       .9     -.1
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   46.496   125.9   127.4   128.0     3.9     .5       .3       .5      .4
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.340   118.2   118.1   119.6     1.3    1.3      -.2       .3     1.3
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   15.684   128.2   131.3   132.1     7.7     .6       .5      1.2      .6
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.272   127.2   129.5   129.8     5.4     .2       .8      0        .3
    Components for manufacturing.................|   17.200   125.8   125.7   125.9      .2     .2      -.1       .1      .2
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.691   149.8   151.3   151.6     2.4     .2       .3       .3      .1
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   13.782    90.6    98.1    96.3    19.5   -1.8      4.1      4.2    -2.9
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    5.027    91.7    96.6    95.8    14.2    -.8      2.6      2.6    -1.1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.755    89.7    98.6    96.2    22.5   -2.4      5.0      5.1    -3.8
  Containers.....................................|    3.945   146.5   148.3   151.8     8.1    2.4       .1       .7     2.3
  Supplies.......................................|   22.086   135.1   136.0   136.2     1.8     .1       .2       .4      .1
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    5.078   141.6   142.3   142.5     1.6     .1      0         .4      .2
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.008   132.3   133.2   133.5     1.8     .2       .2       .4      .2
      Feeds......................................|    1.162    90.3    94.3    93.9     6.2    -.4      3.0      1.3     -.4
      Other supplies.............................|   15.846   137.3   138.0   138.3     1.5     .2       .1       .3      .2
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   103.5   113.3   110.6    21.4   -2.4      4.2      1.8    -2.5
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   38.822    96.9   101.3   103.5     8.5    2.2       .7      3.5     1.7
  Nonfood materials..............................|   61.178   104.3   117.5   111.5    31.5   -5.1      6.5       .8    -5.1
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   38.159   109.1   122.4   107.9    29.4  -11.8      6.8      2.3   -11.8
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   36.767   100.0   112.6    98.9    30.6  -12.2      7.1      2.4   -12.2
      Construction...............................|    1.392   201.1   202.5   201.5     3.8    -.5       .4      -.9     -.5
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   23.019    89.5   101.4   107.5    34.4    6.0      5.9     -1.6     6.0
      Manufacturing industries...................|    1.954    89.2   100.7   107.1    38.2    6.4      7.2     -2.3     6.4
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   21.065    91.1   103.3   109.5    34.0    6.0      5.8     -1.4     6.0
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 77.117   134.6   137.2   136.8     4.2    -.3      1.2      1.2     -.7
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.498   126.2   128.8   128.9     5.4     .1       .8      1.0     -.2
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.502   109.7   110.8   111.8     2.6     .9       .6       .5      .8
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 58.979   104.8   118.1   112.4    33.2   -4.8      6.6       .7    -4.7
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.814    83.6    92.0    90.1    18.7   -2.1      5.2      5.8    -4.1
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.186   144.0   144.3   144.7     1.7     .3       .3       .1      .3
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.821   146.4   146.7   147.2     2.1     .3       .5       .1      .4
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 63.303   147.4   147.6   147.7     1.3     .1       .3       .1      .1
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.938   153.4   153.6   153.7     1.7     .1       .5       .1      .1
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 23.030   168.2   169.0   169.2     2.4     .1      1.1      0        .2
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 13.894    90.3    97.8    96.0    19.6   -1.8      4.2      4.2    -2.9
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 86.106   133.0   134.4   134.9     3.2     .4       .2       .4      .4
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.604   134.6   136.0   136.5     3.3     .4       .2       .4      .4
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 39.878    87.9   103.4    96.3    41.4   -6.9     10.0      1.2    -6.9
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 60.122   109.5   114.1   115.2    10.9    1.0       .4      2.2      .7
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.300   146.0   151.1   149.0    15.4   -1.4      -.2      -.2    -1.2
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          3/  Includes crude petroleum.
      after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            4/  Excludes crude petroleum.
      after final December indexes are available.  The first-published          5/  Percent of total finished goods.
      and final December relative importances initially appear,                 6/  Percent of total intermediate materials.
      respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data.      7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for
  2/  The indexes for December 1999 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. 2000 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   | Apr.  | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb. to|Mar. to
           |                                                       |1999 1/|2000 1/|2000 1/| 1999  | 2000  |  Feb. |  Mar. |  Apr.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 134.9   137.0   137.0     3.9    0        1.0     1.0    -0.3
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 134.3   137.0   136.9     5.0    -.1      1.3     1.2     -.5
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 135.6   135.9   137.1     2.8     .9       .4      .1     1.0
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  95.5    94.1    91.4   -11.3   -2.9      7.0    -4.1    -2.9
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 143.9   122.4   125.4    -5.4    2.5     -6.7    13.8     2.5
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  74.7    70.0    87.1    16.4   24.4     24.6   -30.6    41.6
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 179.6   180.6   181.2     1.9     .3       .4      .2      .3
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 106.4   102.9   103.4   -18.4     .5     -1.0    -2.0      .5
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 121.8   121.7   121.7     -.7    0        0       -.2     0
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................| 109.5   111.8   114.3    11.0    2.2     -1.4     1.8     2.6
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 104.1   111.1   115.4    33.7    3.9      4.5     2.2     1.8
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 111.0   106.4   108.9    -1.7    2.3     -4.3     1.6     2.7
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................| 103.8    91.9    95.0     6.1    3.4     -2.1    -1.6     2.7
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 191.0   197.5   211.3    14.2    7.0      6.2    -4.7     7.2
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 132.0   130.5   131.7     -.3     .9     -1.4     1.0     2.6
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 129.0   129.4   129.0      .5    -.3       .4     -.1     -.3
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 170.3   170.4   170.5      .5     .1       .1     0        .1
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 139.3   143.4   144.0     4.8     .4      2.1      .3      .5
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 135.7   139.7   137.3     1.3   -1.7      -.1      .1    -1.7
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 134.7   132.8   135.5    -4.6    2.0       .1    -3.0     2.0
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 133.6   137.3   136.6     5.9    -.5      1.7     1.7    -1.1
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 137.3   137.9   138.6     1.9     .5      2.3    -1.4      .5
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 124.9   123.6   123.2     -.6    -.3       .1     0       -.3
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 132.9   133.3   133.3      .2    0         .2      .1      .2
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 117.2   119.9   120.2     2.2     .3      0       1.6      .3
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 121.8   122.2   122.2     -.7    0         .2     0       0
04-3       |   Footwear 2/.........................................| 144.5   144.9   145.0      .3     .1       .1     -.1      .1
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 107.0   107.3   107.3      .2    0         .1      .2      .2
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 118.3   118.9   120.6    10.2    1.4      1.9      .7     1.6
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  75.5    96.6    92.6    43.8   -4.1     12.9    14.9   -11.7
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  73.5    92.4    81.9    58.7  -11.4     30.6     -.4   -14.0
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription) 2/.....| 338.3   342.9   344.7     3.8     .5      -.2      .7      .5
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter) 2/..| 186.6   187.6   187.6      .8    0         .1      .3     0
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 127.1   127.1   127.2     1.3     .1      -.4      .1      .1
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 136.5   136.3   136.4     1.8     .1      -.2      .1      .1
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  93.4    92.8    93.7      .1    1.0     -1.4      .7     1.0
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 144.1   145.0   145.1     1.5     .1      1.0      .1      .1
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 207.1   207.2   208.4      .6     .6      0       0        .6
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 197.3   197.7   197.7      .3    0         .6     -.2     0
09-33      |   Book publishing.....................................| 216.0   217.9   214.7     1.6   -1.5       .5     0      -1.7
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 151.4   152.1   152.5     1.6     .3      -.1      .4      .3
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 127.8   128.9   128.7     1.4    -.2       .3      .5     -.2
12-4       |   Household appliances ...............................| 108.2   107.9   107.9     -.7    0         .4     -.6     -.1
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  72.8    71.7    71.6    -3.5    -.1      0      -1.2     -.1
12-62      |   Household glassware.................................| 164.0   165.7   166.2     1.2     .3      0        .5     -.1
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 140.0   140.0   140.0     0      0        0       0       0
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 132.0   132.2   132.2     -.1    0         .2     -.1     0
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 135.7   133.4   133.4     1.5    0       -1.2      .5      .4
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 121.2   121.3   121.5    -1.9     .2      -.4     -.6      .1
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 126.0   126.5   126.6      .2     .1       .6     0        .1
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 395.2   399.0   398.9     9.8    0        5.6     -.2     0
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 159.7   160.1   160.9     2.0     .5      -.1      .2      .5
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 126.6   127.2   127.2     -.5    0         .5     -.4     0
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 140.4   140.7   141.1      .6     .3      -.9      .2      .3
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.3   138.5   138.7      .7     .1      0        .1      .2
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 152.7   152.0   152.3      .1     .2      0        .2      .2
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 147.6   148.5   148.8     1.0     .2      -.1      .1      .3
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 161.1   162.3   161.7      .8    -.4      0        .5     -.4
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 159.9   160.6   160.4      .6    -.1      0        .3     -.1
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 140.4   141.4   141.5     1.4     .1       .2      .4      .1
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 152.3   153.4   153.5     1.2     .1      -.5      .1      .1
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 133.3   133.9   134.0      .8     .1       .3      .2      .1
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............|  80.3    76.5    74.7   -16.9   -2.4     -3.3     -.4    -2.4
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 154.9   155.7   155.8     1.2     .1       .4      .1      .1
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 163.3   165.0   165.0     1.6    0         .3      .8     -.1
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 141.2   141.5   141.5      .6    0         .1     -.1     0
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 134.5   136.0   136.1     4.1     .1       .4      .4      .1
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100)......| 111.3   110.9   110.9    -2.7    0        -.3     -.2      .2
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 103.3   101.6   102.1    -3.8     .5       .1    -1.4      .5
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 126.8   127.8   127.9     1.1     .1       .9     -.1      .2
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 144.4   145.6   145.8     1.3     .1       .2      .4      .1
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.6   113.2   112.9      .5    -.3       .1      .6     -.3
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 157.2   157.9   157.9     1.3    0         .1      .2     0
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 158.6   157.8   158.0     -.5     .1      -.1      .5     -.1
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 147.3   148.4   148.7     2.1     .2       .1      .3      .2
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 137.6   138.1   139.1     2.4     .7       .1     -.1      .7
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 154.0   156.4   157.5     4.3     .7       .6     1.0      .7
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 145.8   146.4   146.4      .4    0        0        .4     0
14-4       |   Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 135.5   135.6   135.8     1.0     .1      -.1      .2      .1
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 125.4   127.9   128.0     5.3     .1       .8      .9     -.1
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 109.7   110.8   111.8     2.6     .9       .6      .5      .8
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................|  99.2   102.6   102.3     -.7    -.3       .8     0       -.3
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 117.7   114.7   110.2    -9.7   -3.9     -1.3     -.3    -3.9
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................|  94.4    93.9    93.9     0      0       -2.2      .5     -.2
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................|  76.3    77.6    84.2   -13.6    8.5      -.1     2.1     8.5
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................|  99.1   102.6   102.2     4.6    -.4      2.4     1.0     -.4
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 126.2   128.8   128.9     5.4     .1       .8     1.0     -.2
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 103.4   105.4   106.1     2.0     .7      1.9      .3      .7
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 107.6   107.0   107.0    -1.6    0         .1     -.6     0
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 111.8   109.3   111.0    -4.3    1.6       .9    -3.0     1.6
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 121.9   122.0   123.0      .2     .8      -.1     0        .6
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 129.4   130.4   130.5     1.2     .1       .6     -.2      .1
04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 177.9   179.8   179.0     1.8    -.4      -.3      .6      .1
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 102.3   136.8   126.1   139.3   -7.8      6.2    28.5    -7.8
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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. 2000 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   | Apr.  | Mar.  |Jan. to|Feb. to|Mar. to
           |                                                       |1999 1/|2000 1/|2000 1/| 1999  | 2000  |  Feb. |  Mar. |  Apr.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 125.9   125.8   125.3     0.9   -0.4      0.2     0.2    -0.2
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 126.5   126.8   126.9     1.4     .1       .2     -.3      .6
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 115.1   115.4   117.2    14.0    1.6      1.5     1.2     4.0
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 112.9   111.9   113.5    18.5    1.4      2.7     1.2     4.4
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  94.6   101.3   100.2    37.3   -1.1      3.5      .6     6.5
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  71.4    83.8    80.2    64.0   -4.3      6.4     8.1    -5.1
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  72.7    90.2    84.3    58.8   -6.5     13.1     7.2    -9.7
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  68.4    78.1    78.2    98.0     .1      0       5.8      .1
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 123.8   128.8   128.4    10.5    -.3      1.0     1.6     -.3
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 157.6   160.2   160.6     2.0     .2       .9     -.1      .1
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 144.3   147.6   147.7     2.4     .1      1.5     1.7      .1
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 146.6   143.9   147.0     5.9    2.2       .3     -.1     2.2
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................|  92.7    75.1    70.4   -13.9   -6.3    -13.8     -.8    -6.3
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 111.3   112.3   112.1    -2.2    -.2      -.9      .2     -.1
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................|  98.0   108.1   108.9    11.7     .7      3.2     1.2     -.2
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 104.8   101.7    98.6   -14.1   -3.0      -.1    -2.9    -3.0
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 144.3   145.8   144.6      .1    -.8       .3      .7     -.8
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 134.3   138.0   141.4    19.2    2.5     -1.8     2.4     2.5
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 115.6   114.2   115.0     1.7     .7       .7    -1.8      .7
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 131.9   136.4   136.2     8.5    -.1       .1     1.6     -.6
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 130.6   130.7   131.7     4.5     .8       .5     -.4      .8
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.1   117.4   117.2     -.3    -.2      -.1      .2     -.2
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 192.8   192.3   189.7    -1.5   -1.4       .4    -1.3    -1.4
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 182.3   184.9   185.5     5.2     .3       .4     1.0      .3
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 175.5   176.5   176.8     2.0     .2      -.4      .7      .2
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 160.8   166.2   167.5    -1.6     .8       .3     2.0      .8
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 130.8   138.8   142.7    26.3    2.8      -.2     1.5     2.8
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 145.4   148.2   149.2     6.4     .7       .6     1.0      .7
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 162.3   175.4   179.1    20.9    2.1      1.4     6.6     2.1
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 164.0   167.1   173.2    11.7    3.7      -.1     1.2     3.7
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 142.6   147.0   148.7     7.5    1.2       .8     2.0     1.2
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 152.8   153.5   154.0     1.3     .3      -.1      .7      .3
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 135.2   135.5   135.8      .5     .2      -.1     -.1      .4
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 106.1   108.0   109.8     4.3    1.7       .9      .7     1.7
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 111.3   115.4   113.0    20.2   -2.1      1.3    -1.7    -2.1
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 142.8   149.0   148.2    10.8    -.5      2.3     0       -.5
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 159.0   160.9   159.9    10.9    -.6       .2    -1.1     -.6
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 137.8   144.2   143.2     7.6    -.7      1.4     1.8     -.7
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 106.5   106.7   106.1     -.2    -.6       .1     0       -.6
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 150.0   150.6   150.8     2.0     .1       .3      .1      .1
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 178.3   180.1   181.0     2.4     .5      -.2      .1      .4
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 154.1   154.3   155.2     1.0     .6      0        .2      .5
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 144.4   145.5   145.7     2.0     .1       .2      .3     0
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.0   130.6   129.8     -.8    -.6      -.1      .2     -.6
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 125.8   126.0   126.1      .6     .1      0        .2      .1
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 161.9   163.2   163.4     1.3     .1       .1      .3      .1
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 134.7   135.2   135.6     -.1     .3       .6     0        .3
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 160.8   162.0   161.9      .9    -.1       .1      .6     -.1
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 167.1   168.0   167.8      .5    -.1       .3      .1     0
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 153.4   153.1   153.3     1.2     .1      -.5     -.1      .3
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 145.7   146.1   146.0      .1    -.1       .2      .1     -.1
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 151.9   152.0   152.9     1.5     .6       .5     -.3      .7
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  97.9    96.9    97.5     -.8     .6      -.7     -.2      .6
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 143.1   143.4   143.3      .4    -.1      -.1      .4     0
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 136.5   137.5   136.9      .1    -.4      0        .1     -.4
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 106.5   107.7   109.2     3.3    1.4       .6     -.3     1.4
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 150.4   149.7   150.2     -.3     .3      -.1     -.1    -1.7
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 144.3   146.1   146.1     1.8    0        -.1      .3     -.3
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................| 100.7   101.0   103.0     3.5    2.0       .2      .8     2.0
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 227.3   221.5   218.3     9.7   -1.4      1.1    -3.7    -1.4
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 125.7   127.4   127.3     1.0    -.1      1.0     0       -.1
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 113.9   113.3   113.4     -.5     .1      -.1     -.2      .1
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 139.1   139.8   139.9      .5     .1      0        .6      .8
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 143.4   142.5   143.6     -.1     .8       .1     0        .8
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 128.1   123.9   124.3    -3.0     .3      0       -.4      .3
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 144.8   145.6   145.5      .3    -.1       .1     -.1     -.1
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 103.5   113.3   110.6    21.4   -2.4      4.2     1.8    -2.5
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................|  96.9   101.3   103.5     8.5    2.2       .7     3.5     1.7
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................|  74.0    80.2    78.0     -.8   -2.7      3.7     -.1    -2.7
01-22-02-05|   Corn 2/.............................................|  73.2    87.8    83.6      .5   -4.8      7.4     6.0    -4.8
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................| 102.3   107.4   109.0    13.0    1.5     -1.0     6.1     1.5
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  60.9    70.7    81.4    69.2   15.1      -.7     9.2     6.5
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 134.8   121.9   124.8     1.7    2.4     -4.1     1.9     4.6
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 123.1   108.8   113.7     4.5    4.5     -2.3     2.6     -.1
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................|  91.0    88.6    89.2    -4.5     .7      0       1.7     2.8
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................|  76.5    87.1    87.3     8.0     .2      5.4     3.8      .2
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................|  97.9   100.2   101.6   -15.1    1.4     -4.2     8.1     1.4
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 104.3   117.5   111.5    31.5   -5.1      6.5      .8    -5.1
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................|  78.2    99.2    87.2    -8.7  -12.1      2.4     6.1   -11.6
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 112.0   110.5    91.4     3.3  -17.3      1.1    -2.1   -17.3
04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 160.7   151.8   156.3    17.4    3.0     -1.3    -1.7     3.0
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  88.1    88.8    87.1    -7.8   -1.9     -2.6     2.1    -1.9
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................|  90.0   106.2   115.4    55.9    8.7      9.0    -2.7     8.7
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  71.0    88.1    67.2    58.5  -23.7     16.6     5.1   -23.7
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 205.9   206.1   204.9     1.9    -.6      -.9    -1.6     -.8
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 244.8   315.9   335.2   135.6    6.1      -.9    10.5     6.1
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  94.8    94.8    95.0      .1     .2      0       0        .2
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 165.9   159.8   157.9    25.1   -1.2     -3.7    -1.4    -1.2
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  66.0    67.5    67.3     7.9    -.3      3.2    -3.4     -.3
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 117.5   120.6   123.3    21.4    2.2      1.1    -1.6     2.2
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 180.7   191.4   180.3    21.2   -5.8      2.6     -.6    -5.6
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 158.7   160.1   161.3     3.1     .7       .4     -.1      .6
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1/  The indexes for December 1999 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. 1999 |March 2000 |April 2000 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   378.7   |   384.5   |   384.4   |
         | All commodities................................|   127.8   |   131.0   |   130.7   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   119.7   |   121.6   |   122.7   |
01       |   Farm products................................|    96.9   |   100.5   |   101.6   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   130.9   |   132.0   |   133.1   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   129.4   |   132.8   |   132.2   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   120.6   |   120.6   |   120.9   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   149.1   |   148.4   |   148.9   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    87.0   |    97.0   |    94.1   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   147.3   |   150.0   |   150.5   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   123.6   |   124.1   |   124.3   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   182.7   |   183.8   |   183.2   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   177.9   |   181.9   |   183.5   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   127.3   |   128.7   |   128.7   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   124.0   |   123.9   |   124.0   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   132.0   |   132.3   |   132.4   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   140.5   |   141.8   |   142.2   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   143.3   |   143.1   |   143.4   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   169.5   |   170.1   |   170.3   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   141.0   |   142.1   |   142.4   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   119.9   |   110.8   |   110.4   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|    74.0   |    85.9   |    82.6   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    91.9   |    98.3   |   102.4   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   130.7   |   117.8   |   121.0   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|    77.3   |    97.6   |    86.2   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|    82.1   |    79.6   |    98.5   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|    95.9   |   106.8   |   108.9   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|    87.1   |    98.3   |    98.4   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   167.0   |   164.8   |   136.3   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   157.1   |   157.7   |   157.9   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   117.1   |   119.3   |   122.4   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   113.9   |   109.9   |   111.5   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   133.6   |   133.1   |   132.4   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   139.5   |   141.9   |   142.6   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   133.7   |   137.1   |   135.1   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   113.0   |   112.6   |   116.3   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   127.4   |   127.2   |   127.0   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   145.8   |   146.0   |   146.0   |
05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|    92.0   |   112.6   |   116.6   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   125.8   |   125.9   |   125.8   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    73.7   |    91.0   |    87.0   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   254.5   |   256.2   |   257.7   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   121.8   |   123.7   |   122.4   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   135.7   |   136.4   |   136.6   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   114.6   |   114.2   |   114.9   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   115.0   |   113.6   |   114.4   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   138.2   |   138.4   |   138.7   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   131.0   |   131.9   |   131.8   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   187.6   |   188.0   |   186.4   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   153.9   |   159.6   |   162.5   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   157.2   |   159.2   |   162.2   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   117.1   |   117.8   |   118.9   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   125.2   |   129.0   |   127.9   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   138.3   |   143.2   |   142.7   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   148.5   |   149.4   |   149.4   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   149.6   |   150.4   |   150.6   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   161.9   |   163.0   |   162.8   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   119.3   |   118.7   |   119.0   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   133.2   |   133.8   |   133.6   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   153.4   |   154.7   |   155.1   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   153.0   |   153.6   |   154.5   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   133.5   |   132.4   |   132.5   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   132.0   |   132.6   |   132.8   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   110.7   |   108.4   |   108.5   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   135.9   |   136.6   |   136.5   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|

1/  Data for December 1999 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._2000_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                  |                                              |     |Dec.   |Mar.   |Apr.   |  Apr.  |  Mar.
                  |                                              |     |1999 2/|2000 2/|2000 2/|  1999  |  2000
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  86.7   100.1    94.9     37.7     -5.2
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  72.6    73.6    73.4      5.2      -.3
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  85.4    85.8    84.4     -6.1     -1.6
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  90.4   108.6   101.8     54.9     -6.3
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 134.4   135.2   136.0      1.6       .6
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 130.5   133.0   132.8      4.2      -.2
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 126.7   127.5   128.2      3.1       .5
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 345.0   347.3   347.2      9.9    0
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 116.1   116.0   116.1      -.3       .1
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 125.3   125.3   125.6       .2       .2
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 160.6   162.0   161.8      1.0      -.1
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 142.1   142.8   143.0      1.6       .1
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 140.4   143.5   145.8      8.6      1.6
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 179.2   181.2   181.3      2.4       .1
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 152.9   154.8   155.5      5.3       .5
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  91.8   112.2   107.8     46.3     -3.9
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 123.4   124.0   124.1      2.0       .1
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 137.0   137.5   137.4      1.0      -.1
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 133.5   134.7   134.7      2.0    0
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 117.4   119.8   120.5      5.1       .6
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 129.7   130.4   130.4      1.2    0
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 117.0   117.4   117.4      -.1    0
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 108.9   108.5   108.7      -.9       .2
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 136.2   136.1   136.3      1.3       .1
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.6   125.9   126.1      -.2       .2
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 130.5   130.9   131.1       .5       .2
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Services industries                           |     |
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 101.6   102.2   102.4      1.4       .2
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 115.8   118.1   118.2      3.5       .1
       43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 135.2   135.2   135.2      -.1    0
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 116.1   117.2   118.5     11.8      1.1
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 134.2   138.4   142.5     10.0      3.0
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86|  98.2   101.9   101.9      3.6    0
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 110.8   111.7   111.8      2.2       .1
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 109.8   110.6   110.9      2.4       .3
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes.  Because of differences
   in coverage and aggregation methodology, they will generally not match the movements of similarly-titled 
   indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings.
2/ The indexes for December 1999 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by 
   respondents.  All indexes are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.

Table 5.  Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |
                                                       |                      Index 1/   
                                                       |_____________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |        |        |        |        |        |       
                                                       |  Nov.  |  Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb.  |  Mar.  |  Apr. 
                                                       |  1999  |  1999  |  2000  |  2000  |  2000  |  2000 
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
                                                       |
      Finished goods...................................|  134.7    134.9    135.0    136.4    137.7    137.3
        Finished consumer goods........................|  134.2    134.4    134.5    136.3    138.0    137.3
          Finished consumer foods......................|  135.4    135.4    135.7    136.3    136.5    137.9
            Crude......................................|  119.0    124.0    118.1    123.1    119.2    128.6
            Processed..................................|  136.7    136.3    137.1    137.4    137.9    138.6
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  133.5    133.8    133.8    136.1    138.4    136.9
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  131.9    132.3    132.2    135.7    138.8    136.6
            Durable goods..............................|  133.5    133.6    133.7    133.3    133.6    133.7
        Capital equipment..............................|  137.8    138.0    138.1    138.1    138.3    138.6
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  138.6    138.8    139.0    139.0    139.2    139.2
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  137.5    137.7    137.7    137.7    138.0    138.3
                                                       |
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  125.2    125.6    126.3    127.3    128.5    128.4
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  126.0    126.0    126.5    126.9    127.5    128.0
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  121.0    118.1    118.5    118.3    118.7    120.2
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  127.9    128.2    129.1    129.7    131.3    132.1
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  126.7    127.2    128.4    129.4    129.4    129.8
          Components for manufacturing.................|  125.8    125.8    125.7    125.6    125.7    125.9
        Materials and components for construction......|  149.5    150.0    150.5    150.9    151.4    151.5
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   90.2     91.5     93.4     97.2    101.3     98.4
          Manufacturing industries ....................|   92.9     92.7     94.0     96.4     98.9     97.8
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   88.4     90.6     92.7     97.3    102.3     98.4
        Containers.....................................|  146.4    146.4    147.2    147.3    148.4    151.8
        Supplies.......................................|  135.0    135.1    135.2    135.5    136.0    136.2
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  141.4    141.5    141.7    141.7    142.3    142.6
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  132.2    132.3    132.4    132.7    133.2    133.4
            Feeds......................................|   90.7     90.3     90.4     93.1     94.3     93.9
            Other supplies.............................|  137.2    137.4    137.4    137.5    137.9    138.2
                                                       |
      Crude materials for further processing...........|  109.6    104.2    107.4    111.9    113.9    111.1
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|  100.2     98.2     98.8     99.5    103.0    104.7
        Nonfood materials..............................|  112.1    104.5    109.4    116.5    117.4    111.4
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|  105.2    109.5    111.9    119.5    122.2    107.8
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   96.3    100.4    102.6    109.9    112.5     98.8
            Construction...............................|  200.5    201.2    203.5    204.3    202.5    201.4
          Crude fuel 3/................................|  112.6     89.5     97.3    103.0    101.4    107.5
            Manufacturing industries...................|  112.3     89.2     96.2    103.1    100.7    107.1
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|  114.6     91.1     99.1    104.8    103.3    109.5
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  134.4    134.7    134.7    136.3    138.0    137.0
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  126.0    126.5    127.2    128.2    129.5    129.3
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  111.7    109.6    109.9    110.6    111.2    112.1
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|  112.9    105.0    109.9    117.2    118.0    112.4
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   84.0     84.6     85.4     89.8     95.0     91.1
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  143.6    143.7    143.6    144.1    144.3    144.8
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  146.1    146.1    145.9    146.6    146.8    147.4
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  146.9    147.0    146.7    147.2    147.4    147.6
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  152.9    153.1    152.5    153.3    153.4    153.6
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  168.2    168.3    167.1    168.9    168.9    169.2
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|   89.9     91.2     93.0     96.9    101.0     98.1
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  133.0    133.1    133.5    133.8    134.4    134.9
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  134.4    134.6    135.1    135.4    135.9    136.4
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   98.9     87.9     92.9    102.2    103.4     96.3
      Crude materials less energy......................|  111.2    110.7    112.3    112.7    115.2    116.0
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  143.4    147.0    151.2    150.9    150.6    148.8
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 1999 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

     The term Producer Price Index (PPI) refers to a family of 
indexes that measure the average change over time in the selling 
prices received by domestic producers of goods and services.  
PPIs measure price change from the perspective of the seller. 
This contrasts with other measures, such as the Consumer Price 
Index (CPI); CPIs measure price change from the purchaser's 
perspective.  Sellers' and purchasers' prices may differ due to 
government subsidies, sales and excise taxes, and distribution 
costs.
     Over 10,000 PPIs for individual products and groups of 
products are released each month.  PPIs are available for the 
products of virtually every industry in the mining and 
manufacturing sectors of the U.S. economy.  New PPIs are 
gradually being introduced for the products of industries in 
the transportation, utilities, trade, finance, and services 
sectors of the economy.
     Over 100,000 price quotations per month are organized into 
three sets of producer price indexes: (1) Stage of processing 
indexes; (2) commodity indexes; and (3) indexes for the net 
output of industries and their products.  The stage-of-processing 
structure (tables 1, 2, and 5) organizes products by class of 
buyer and degree of fabrication.  The commodity structure 
(tables 2 and 3) organizes products by similarity of end-use or 
material composition.  The entire output of various industries is 
sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of industries 
and their products (table 4).
     Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods are 
commodities that will not undergo further processing and are 
ready for sale to the final demand user, either an individual 
consumer or business firm.  Consumer foods include unprocessed 
foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables, as well as processed 
foods such as bakery products and meats.  Other finished consumer 
goods include durable goods such as automobiles, household 
furniture, and appliances; and nondurable goods such as apparel 
and home heating oil.  Capital equipment includes producer 
durable goods such as heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine 
tools.
     The stage-of-processing category for intermediate materials, 
supplies, and components consists partly of commodities that 
have been processed but require further processing.  Examples of 
such semifinished goods include flour, cotton yarn, steel mill 
products, and lumber.  The intermediate goods category also 
encompasses nondurable physically complete items purchased by 
business firms as inputs for their operations.  Examples include 
diesel fuel, belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers.
     Crude materials for further processing are products 
entering the market for the first time that have not been 
manufactured or fabricated and that are not sold directly to 
consumers.  Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs include items such as 
grains and livestock.  Examples of crude nonfood materials 
include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides and skins, and 
iron and steel scrap.
     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries and 
their products are grouped according to the Standard Industrial 
Classification (SIC).  Industry price indexes are compatible with 
other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such as data 
on employment, wages, and productivity.  Table 4 lists indexes 
for the net output of major mining and manufacturing industry 
groups at the 2-digit level.
     Producer price indexes are based on selling prices reported 
by establishments of all sizes selected by probability sampling, 
with the probability of selection proportionate to size.  
Individual items and transaction terms from these firms are also 
chosen by probability proportionate to size.  BLS strongly 
encourages cooperating companies to supply actual transaction 
prices at the time of shipment to minimize the use of list 
prices.  Prices are normally reported by mail questionnaire for 
the Tuesday of the week containing the 13th.
     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential 
basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to 
individual company price reports.  The Bureau publishes price 
indexes instead of unit dollar prices.  All producer price 
indexes are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months
after original publication, to reflect the availability of 
late reports and corrections by respondents.
     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the 
PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing 
indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings, 
currently reflect 1992 values of shipments as reported in 
the Census of Manufactures and other sources.  From January 
1992 through December 1995, PPI weights were derived from 
1987 shipment values.  Industry indexes shown in table 4 are 
also now calculated with 1992 net output weights.  This 
periodic update of the value weights used to calculate the 
PPI is done to more accurately reflect changes in production 
and marketing patterns in the economy.
     Net output values of shipments are used as weights for 
industry indexes. Net output values refer to the value of 
shipments from establishments in one industry to establishments 
classified in another industry.  However, weights for commodity 
price indexes are based on gross shipment values, including 
shipment values between establishments within the same industry. 
As a result, broad commodity grouping indexes such as the all 
commodities index are affected by the multiple counting of price 
change at successive stages of processing, which can lead to 
exaggerated or misleading signals about inflation.  Stage-of-
processing indexes partially correct this defect, but industry 
indexes consistently correct for this at all levels of 
aggregation.  Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing 
indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings for 
economic analysis of general price trends.
     Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many 
important PPI series (including stage-of-processing groupings 
and most commodity groups and individual items) were placed on 
a new reference base, 1982=100.  From 1971 through 1987, the 
standard reference base for most PPI series was 1967=100. 
Except for rounding differences, the shift to the new reference 
base did not alter any changes to previously published percent 
changes for affected PPI series. (See "Calculating Index 
Changes," below.) The new reference base is not used for indexes 
with a base later than December 1981, nor for indexes for the 
net output of industries and their products.
     For further information on the underlying concepts and 
methodology of the Producer Price Index, see chapter 14, "Producer 
Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (April 1997), Bulletin 2490. 
Reprints are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on 
request.

Calculating Index Changes

     Each index measures price changes from a reference period 
which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). An increase of 5.5 
percent from the reference period in the Finished Goods Price Index, 
for example, is shown as 105.5.  This change can also be expressed 
in dollars as follows:  "Prices received by domestic producers of a 
systematic sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to 
$105.50 today." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would indicate 
that prices received by producers of finished goods today are 10 
percent lower than they were in 1982.
     Movements of price indexes from one month to another are 
usually expressed as percent changes rather than as changes in 
index points because index point changes are affected by the level 
of the index in relation to its base period, while percent changes 
are not.  The example below shows the computation of index point and percent 
changes.

     Index point change

     Finished Goods Price Index          107.5
     Less previous index                 104.0
     Equals index point change             3.5

     Index percent change

     Index point change                    3.5
     Divided by the previous index       104.0
     Equals                                0.034
     Result multiplied by 100              0.034 x 100
     Equals percent change                 3.4
                  
     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
and Unadjusted Data

     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 (April 1997), 
Bulletin 2490 and (2) "Summary of  Changes to the PPI's  Seasonal 
Adjustment Methodology" in the January 1995 issue of Producer 
Price Indexes.