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http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   DECEMBER 11, 1998
                                     
                  Producer Price Indexes -- November 1998

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods decreased 0.2 percent in
November, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This decline followed a rise of 0.2
percent in October and an advance of 0.3 percent in September.  The index
for finished goods other than foods and energy rose 0.1 percent, following
a similar increase a month ago.  Prices received by producers of
intermediate goods declined 0.2 percent for the third consecutive month.
The crude goods index fell 1.4 percent, after a 1.7-percent increase in
October.  (See table A.)

     Among finished goods, prices for finished energy goods decreased 1.2
percent, following a 1.2-percent advance in October.  The index for
finished consumer foods also turned down, after rising in the previous
month.  Prices for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy and
for capital equipment edged up.

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.)
 1997                                                     
 Nov.    -0.2   -0.3   -0.4    -0.1        -0.7    0.2    1.6
 Dec.    -0.2      0   -0.6    -0.1        -1.2   -0.2   -5.6
                                                             
 1998                                                        
 Jan.    -0.6   -0.4   -3.7       0        -1.7   -0.6   -5.8
 Feb.    -0.1    0.2   -1.8     0.1        -1.5   -0.3   -1.9
 Mar.    -0.1   -0.3   -2.3     0.5        -1.5   -0.4   -1.2
 Apr.     0.2    0.5    0.1     0.1        -0.9    0.1    1.3
 May      0.1   -0.4    0.8       0        -0.8   -0.1   -0.4
 June    -0.2    0.1   -1.2    -0.1        -0.7   -0.3   -2.6
 July     0.2    0.4  r-0.1     0.2       r-0.2     r0   r0.1
 Aug.    -0.4   -0.4  r-2.4    -0.1        -0.8  r-0.4  r-3.7
Sept.     0.3    0.4   -0.1     0.4        -0.9   -0.2   -1.6
 Oct.     0.2    0.4    1.2     0.1        -0.7   -0.2    1.7
 Nov.    -0.2   -0.5   -1.2     0.1        -0.7   -0.2   -1.4
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for July 1998 have 
been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents.
                                    -2-

     For the first 11 months of 1998, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods declined at a 0.6-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).
This compares with a 1.2-percent decrease during all of 1997.  Prices for
finished goods other than foods and energy rose at a 1.5-percent SAAR for
the first 11 months of 1998, after showing no change in the prior year.
The index for intermediate goods fell at a 2.9-percent SAAR from December
1997 to November 1998, following a 0.8-percent decline during calendar year
1997.  Prices for crude goods dropped at a 15.8-percent SAAR during the
first 11 months of 1998, after an 11.3-percent decrease during all of 1997.

     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods decreased 0.5 percent in November to stand at 130.8 (1982=100).  From
November 1997 to November 1998, the finished goods price index decreased
0.7 percent.  Over the past 12 months, prices for finished consumer foods
advanced 0.1 percent, the index for finished energy goods fell 11.0
percent, and prices for finished goods other than foods and energy
increased 1.3 percent.  Prices received by domestic producers of
intermediate goods declined 2.9 percent for the 12 months ended in
November, and the index for crude goods fell 19.0 percent during the same
period.

Finished goods

     The index for finished energy goods declined 1.2 percent in November,
following a 1.2-percent advance in October.  Gasoline prices dropped 6.9
percent, after rising 5.7 percent in the previous month.  The index for
finished lubricants also turned down in November, following an increase in
the prior month.  Home heating oil prices fell more than in October.  The
index for residential natural gas rose less than a month ago.  By contrast,
prices for residential electric power rose more than in October.

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.)
                                                .)
 1997                                                             
 Nov.     1.6    0.0    0.1       -0.2   -0.1    4.6   -0.4     -0.1
 Dec.    -0.6   -1.5      0       -0.8      0  -13.2   -1.6    -11.3
                                                                  
 1998                                                             
 Jan.    -3.6   -2.9   -0.1       -1.7   -3.4  -11.2   -1.9    -19.5
 Feb.    -0.3   -1.7   -0.1       -1.8   -0.7   -4.3   -0.3    -13.8
 Mar.    -1.5   -2.2      0       -1.8    0.3   -2.9   -1.4     -7.6
 Apr.    -0.9    0.6   -0.1       -1.6    0.2    4.5   -1.1     -7.0
 May      0.3    0.4   -0.1       -1.5   -0.9      0    0.1     -9.0
 June    -0.5   -1.5   -0.1       -1.8    0.6   -8.0   -0.4     -8.9
 July    r0.4     r0  r-0.1      r-1.6  r-3.5   r6.0  r-1.4    r-8.4
 Aug.   r-1.1  r-2.2     r0       -2.1  r-1.0  r-7.9  r-2.3    -12.0
Sept.    -0.5    0.6   -0.3       -2.4   -1.9   -1.7   -1.3    -14.4
 Oct.    -0.2    0.5   -0.3       -2.5    4.0    1.9   -2.7    -16.7
 Nov.     0.6   -0.8   -0.2       -2.9   -1.9      0   -2.5    -19.0
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for July 1998 have 
been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections 
by respondents.
                                    -3-
     
     The index for finished consumer foods moved down 0.5 percent in
November, after advancing 0.4 percent in October.  Prices for fresh and dry
vegetables declined 16.1 percent, following a 13.5-percent rise a month
ago.  Prices for eggs for fresh use, fresh fruits and melons, and dairy
products also fell, after increasing in the previous month.  By contrast,
the index for beef and veal turned up 0.8 percent, following a 2.1-percent
decline in October.  Prices for processed fruits and vegetables and roasted
coffee also turned up, after falling in the prior month.

     The index for capital equipment turned up 0.1 percent in November,
after showing no change in October.  Price increases for heavy motor
trucks, light motor trucks, and for X-ray and electromedical equipment
slightly outweighed price decreases for electronic computers, civilian
aircraft, and railroad equipment.
     
     The index for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy rose
0.1 percent in November, following no change in October.  Rising prices for
alcoholic beverages, passenger cars, light motor trucks, and sanitary
papers and health products offset falling prices for soaps and synthetic
detergents and for men's and boys' apparel.
     
Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components declined 0.2 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, after
registering a similar 0.2-percent decline in October.  Falling prices for
intermediate energy goods, nondurable manufacturing materials, durable
manufacturing materials, and for materials and components for construction
outweighed rising prices for intermediate foods and feeds.  Excluding foods
and energy, the index for intermediate materials decreased 0.2 percent,
following a 0.3-percent decrease a month earlier.  (See table B.)

     The index for intermediate energy goods declined 0.8 percent in
November, after posting a 0.5-percent advance in October.  Prices for
gasoline decreased 6.9 percent, following a 5.7-percent increase in the
prior month.  The indexes for jet fuels, commercial electric power, natural
gas to electric utilities, and commercial natural gas also fell, after
rising last month.  Liquefied petroleum gas prices rose less than in the
previous month.  By contrast, the index for industrial electric power
gained 1.5 percent, following a 0.5-percent drop in October.  The indexes
for industrial natural gas and residual fuels also rose, after falling a
month earlier.  Prices for diesel fuel fell less than a month ago.

     The index for nondurable manufacturing materials declined 0.6 percent
in November, following a 0.7-percent decline in October.  Falling prices
for plastic resins and materials, paper, paperboard, woodpulp,
nitrogenates, and finished fabrics outweighed rising prices for basic
organic chemicals, gray fabrics, and phosphates.

     The index for durable manufacturing materials fell 0.6 percent in
November, after registering a 0.9-percent drop in October.   Declining
prices for steel mill products, primary nonferrous metals, building paper
and board, hardwood lumber, and copper and brass mill shapes outweighed
rising prices for plywood, prepared paint, and cement.

     The index for materials and components for construction declined 0.1
percent in November, following a 0.3-percent decline in October.  Price
decreases for softwood lumber, nonferrous wire and cable, wiring devices,
and millwork offset rising prices for plywood, gypsum products, metal
valves, and automobile stampings.
                                    -4-

     The index for intermediate foods and feeds advanced 0.6 percent, after
posting a 0.2-percent decline in October.  Prices for prepared animal feeds
rose 1.4 percent, following a 2.1-percent drop in the prior month.  The
indexes for crude vegetable oils and for beef and veal also rose, after
falling last month.  Prices for pork fell less than a month ago.  On the
other hand, the index for fluid milk products decreased 0.6 percent,
following a 1.8-percent increase in October.  Prices for flour and for
natural, processed, and imitation cheese advanced less than in the previous
month.  The index for confectionery materials moved down, after rising a
month earlier.

Crude Goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further
Processing turned down 1.4 percent in November, seasonally adjusted,
after rising 1.7 percent in October.  Prices for crude foodstuffs and
feedstuffs also fell, after advancing in the prior month.  The index
for crude energy materials showed no change, following an increase a
month ago.  By contrast, the index for basic industrial materials fell
less than in the previous month.  (See table B.)
     
     Prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs declined 1.9 percent,
following a 4.0-percent gain in October.  The index for slaughter hogs
dropped 30.9 percent, after a 0.4-percent rise in the prior month.
Prices for slaughter broilers and fryers, slaughter cattle, and fresh
and dry vegetables also turned down, after rising in the previous
month.   The index for corn rose less than a month ago.  Conversely,
prices for soybeans increased 4.1 percent, following a 1.9-percent
rise in October.  The indexes for unprocessed shellfish and raw cane
sugar turned up, after falling in the previous month.
     
     The index for crude energy materials showed no change in
November, following a 1.9-percent advance in October.   Prices for
crude petroleum fell 7.4 percent, after a 2.2-percent decline in the
prior month.  The index for natural gas rose 2.7 percent, following a
5.0-percent gain a month ago.  By contrast, prices for coal rose 2.5
percent, following a 0.4-percent increase in the previous month.
     
     Prices for crude nonfood materials less energy declined 2.5
percent, after dropping 2.7 percent in October.  Iron and steel scrap
prices fell 8.5 percent, following a 12.4-percent decrease in the
prior month.   The indexes for cattle hides, copper ores, and pulpwood
also fell less than in the previous month.  On the other hand, prices
for aluminum base scrap rose 0.1 percent, following a 2.5-percent
increase a month ago.  The indexes for gold ores and copper base scrap
fell, after rising in the prior month.  Prices for softwood logs,
bolts, and timber decreased more than in the previous month.
     
Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining
Industries fell 0.3 percent in November, following a 1.2-percent advance in
October.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.)  Prices
for the oil and gas extraction industry group turned down 0.5 percent,
after showing a 1.7-percent increase in the prior month.  By contrast, the
index for the coal mining industry group rose 1.6 percent, following a 0.2-
percent increase in October.  The metal mining industry group index fell
2.2 percent, less than in the previous month.  In November, the Producer
Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining Industries stood at 67.9
(December 1984=100), 27.1 percent below its year-ago level.
                                    -5-

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Manufacturing Industries decreased 0.2 percent in November, after
registering a 0.3-percent increase in October.  The index for the petroleum
refining and related products industry group turned down 4.0 percent,
following a 1.7-percent advance in October.  Prices for the transportation
equipment industry group were unchanged, following a 2.7-percent increase
in the previous month.  The index for the printing and publishing industry
group rose less than a month ago.  By contrast, prices for the food and
kindred products, chemicals and allied products, and measuring and
controlling instruments industry groups showed no change after falling in
October.  The index for the lumber and wood products industry group fell
less than in the prior month.  In November, the Producer Price Index for
the Net Output of Total Manufacturing Industries stood at 126.2 (December
1984=100), 1.0 percent below its year-ago level.

Other.  Among other industries in November, price declines were registered
for real estate agents and managers, deep sea foreign transportation of
freight, telephone communications (except radiotelephone), hotels and
motels, water transportation of freight (not elsewhere classified), and
passenger car rental (without drivers).  These decreases offset price
increases for operators and lessors of nonresidential buildings, scheduled
air transportation, skilled and intermediate care facilities, general
medical and surgical hospitals, building cleaning and maintenance services
(not elsewhere classified), and accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping
services.
     

                                   *****
            Producer Price Index data for December 1998 will be
       released on Wednesday, January 13, 1999 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.






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|                       |Nov. 1998 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |           July   |Oct.   |Nov.   |  Nov. | Oct.  |Aug. to|Sept. to |Oct.  to
                                                 |   1997 1/|1998 2/|1998 2/|1998 2/|  1997 | 1998  |  Sept.|   Oct.  |  Nov.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   131.0   131.4   130.8    -0.7   -0.5      0.3      0.2    -0.2
  Finished consumer goods........................|   74.755   129.4   129.7   129.0     -.8    -.5       .4       .3     -.3
    Finished consumer foods......................|   23.199   134.7   135.5   134.7      .1    -.6       .4       .4     -.5
      Crude......................................|    1.761   128.4   134.0   126.3    -3.1   -5.7      3.1      9.7    -6.3
      Processed..................................|   21.438   135.2   135.6   135.3      .3    -.2       .2      -.4     0
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.556   127.0   127.1   126.3    -1.3    -.6       .3       .3     -.2
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.297   123.3   122.5   121.4    -2.0    -.9       .1       .3     -.2
      Durable goods..............................|   16.259   132.0   134.3   134.2      .1    -.1       .9       .1      .2
  Capital equipment..............................|   25.245   137.1   138.0   138.1     -.1     .1       .4      0        .1
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.590   137.9   138.0   138.2      .3     .1       .1       .1      .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   18.655   136.8   137.9   137.9     -.3    0         .4      0        .1
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   123.5   122.3   121.8    -2.9    -.4      -.2      -.2     -.2
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   47.584   126.0   125.1   124.7    -2.7    -.3      -.3      -.4     -.3
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.500   122.9   125.3   125.3      .9    0        1.1       .7      .1
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   16.157   126.9   124.8   124.1    -4.5    -.6      -.9      -.7     -.6
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.575   127.8   126.0   125.3    -5.1    -.6      -.5      -.9     -.6
    Components for manufacturing.................|   17.352   125.8   125.7   125.7     -.2    0        0        0       -.1
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.519   147.2   146.7   146.6     0      -.1      0        -.3     -.1
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   13.015    83.2    80.5    78.9   -10.6   -2.0       .8       .5     -.7
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    4.844    88.3    84.7    84.0    -8.0    -.8       .8      -.6      .9
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.171    80.0    77.9    75.8   -12.2   -2.7       .7      1.2    -1.7
  Containers.....................................|    3.784   141.3   140.1   139.6     1.1    -.4       .1      -.6     -.4
  Supplies.......................................|   22.098   135.1   134.1   134.2    -1.4     .1      -.3      -.1      .1
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    4.941   140.7   140.7   140.6      .3    -.1      0         .1     -.1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.157   132.5   131.3   131.5    -1.8     .2      -.4      -.2      .2
      Feeds......................................|    1.618   101.4    90.5    92.4   -25.2    2.1     -5.3     -2.5     2.1
      Other supplies.............................|   15.539   136.4   136.2   136.2      .6    0        0        0       0
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000    98.1    93.9    92.9   -19.0   -1.1     -1.6      1.7    -1.4
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   42.088   103.7   103.4   102.4    -7.2   -1.0     -1.9      4.0    -1.9
  Nonfood materials..............................|   57.912    90.6    83.9    83.0   -26.8   -1.1     -1.5      0      -1.1
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   33.172    85.3    80.7    77.4   -23.9   -4.1      3.6     -2.5    -3.9
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   31.843    77.5    73.2    70.1   -24.8   -4.2      3.8     -2.5    -4.1
      Construction...............................|    1.329   192.6   190.4   188.5    -5.6   -1.0      -.6      -.6    -1.3
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   24.740    90.7    81.6    83.9   -31.6    2.8     -7.9      3.6     2.8
      Manufacturing industries...................|    2.039    88.6    80.0    81.4   -30.7    1.8     -7.2      3.4     1.8
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   22.701    92.5    83.1    85.7   -31.8    3.1     -8.0      3.5     3.1
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.801   129.7   130.0   129.6     -.9    -.3       .3       .2     -.1
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 94.882   123.9   122.7   122.2    -2.7    -.4      -.2      -.2     -.2
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  5.118   116.4   114.6   115.2    -7.3     .5      -.5      -.2      .6
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 55.307    89.7    82.7    81.8   -27.7   -1.1     -1.9      -.1    -1.1
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.585    76.9    74.8    72.9   -11.0   -2.5      -.1      1.2    -1.2
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.415   141.0   142.1   141.9      .9    -.1       .4       .1     -.1
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.170   142.5   143.6   143.4     1.4    -.1       .5       .1     -.1
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 63.216   143.4   144.6   144.7     1.3     .1       .4       .1      .1
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 37.971   147.4   148.9   149.0     2.2     .1       .5      0        .1
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.712   159.2   160.0   160.2     3.8     .1       .3      -.1      .2
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 13.123    82.9    80.3    78.7   -10.6   -2.0       .6       .5     -.8
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 86.877   132.5   131.6   131.4    -1.8    -.2      -.2      -.4     -.2
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.759   133.6   132.7   132.4    -1.5    -.2      -.3      -.3     -.2
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 36.418    70.9    65.4    65.4   -32.6    0       -1.7      1.9     0
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 63.582   113.9   111.0   109.3   -10.1   -1.5     -1.7      1.7    -2.1
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.494   143.8   133.7   130.0   -15.7   -2.8     -1.3     -2.7    -2.5
                                                 |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 July 1998 have been recalculated to incorporate               further processing, excluding crude
      late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and
      are subject to revision 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 |                                                       |                       |Nov. 1998 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |July   |Oct.   |Nov.   | Nov.  | Oct.  |Aug. to|Sept.to|Oct. to
           |                                                       |1998 1/|1998 1/|1998 1/| 1997  | 1998  |  Sept.|  Oct. |  Nov.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 131.0   131.4   130.8    -0.7   -0.5      0.3     0.2    -0.2
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 129.4   129.7   129.0     -.8    -.5       .4      .3     -.3
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 134.7   135.5   134.7      .1    -.6       .4      .4     -.5
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  90.2    91.7    85.4    -4.7   -6.9       .8      .9    -6.9
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 146.6   148.4   124.5    -4.2  -16.1     12.4    13.5   -16.1
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  80.8    92.0   100.3   -14.8    9.0     -8.8    10.2    -7.1
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 175.6   176.2   176.3      .9     .1      -.3      .4      .1
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 123.7   127.7   127.4      .2    -.2      1.0     2.5     -.2
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 123.1   122.9   122.8     -.6    -.1      -.2     0       -.1
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................|  99.3    96.9    99.9    -4.0    3.1     -2.3    -2.1      .8
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 101.3    90.8    83.9   -24.6   -7.6     -2.8    -4.2    -3.2
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 133.1   132.4   126.0     9.2   -4.8      1.4    -2.9    -4.2
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................|  96.7   101.7   102.1    -1.2     .4      2.7     3.7      .4
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 179.1   181.3   185.4    -2.0    2.3      -.6    -3.9     -.6
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 135.6   148.0   148.6    10.9     .4      4.0     1.6     -.1
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 126.1   125.2   126.6     1.4    1.1      -.2     -.9     1.1
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 169.0   169.7   169.9      .9     .1      0        .2      .1
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 134.6   135.0   134.7     1.7    -.2       .1     -.1      .1
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 143.2   135.8   137.7    -9.3    1.4      0      -4.4     1.4
02-76      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 143.7   142.7   143.5      .9     .6      3.8      .1      .6
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 127.0   127.1   126.3    -1.3    -.6       .3      .3     -.2
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 134.9   135.0   136.4     1.8    1.0       .8     -.1     1.2
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 121.7   122.0   122.1      .7     .1       .3      .5      .1
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 133.6   133.5   133.2      .5    -.2       .1     -.1     -.1
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 122.2   121.9   121.9     -.2    0       -1.6     1.2     0
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.9   123.2   123.2      .2    0        0        .3     0
04-3       |   Footwear............................................| 144.5   144.7   144.9      .6     .1      -.2     0        .1
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 115.0   111.1   108.5    -1.6   -2.3       .5      .1      .3
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 112.6   113.8   114.2    -6.5     .4     -1.1     1.1      .4
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  56.0    52.8    49.4   -27.2   -6.4     -2.0     5.7    -6.9
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  45.5    47.9    45.6   -31.4   -4.8      6.6     -.4    -5.6
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription)........| 333.8   332.8   333.2    20.2     .1       .3     0        .2
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter).....| 184.3   184.2   184.8     -.2     .3       .1     -.3      .2
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 126.3   126.1   125.2    -1.3    -.7       .4     -.5     -.7
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 133.6   133.3   133.6     2.2     .2       .4     -.7      .2
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  93.7    93.9    94.0     -.3     .1       .2     -.1      .1
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 145.6   144.2   145.3     -.5     .8     -1.0     -.3      .8
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 202.7   202.8   202.8      .4    0        0       0       0
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 193.7   194.4   194.6     2.7     .1       .7     -.2      .3
09-33      |   Book publishing 2/..................................| 204.4   208.7   209.3     2.0     .3      -.2     2.3      .3
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 148.4   149.0   149.0     1.4    0         .1      .3     0
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 128.3   127.3   128.3     -.2     .8      -.3     -.2      .8
12-4       |   Household appliances 2/.............................| 109.2   109.0   109.0     -.2    0        -.1      .2     0
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  76.8    74.5    74.5    -1.7    0        0      -3.0     0
12-62      |   Household glassware 2/..............................| 163.0   163.0   162.9      .2    -.1       .1     -.1     -.1
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 138.3   138.3   139.4      .7     .8       .5     -.5      .8
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 131.4   132.2   132.2     1.0    0         .5     -.1     0
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 130.1   135.5   135.4      .4    -.1      2.2      .5      .2
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 124.3   123.9   124.0     -.8     .1      -.3      .1      .2
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 126.2   126.4   126.4     1.1    0        0        .2     0
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 278.7   287.4   288.1    12.4     .2       .3     0        .2
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 154.3   155.1   155.3     1.4     .1       .3      .1      .1
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 127.9   128.3   128.4     -.6     .1       .1      .4      .1
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 139.8   139.5   139.8      .7     .2      0       0        .2
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 137.1   138.0   138.1     -.1     .1       .4     0        .1
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 150.0   149.8   149.7     0      -.1      -.1      .5     -.1
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 145.3   145.1   145.1     1.5    0        0       -.2      .1
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 159.7   160.0   160.3     1.8     .2       .1     -.2      .2
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 158.1   158.5   158.6     2.1     .1       .3     0        .1
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 138.7   138.8   139.0      .4     .1      0        .1      .1
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 149.2   149.1   149.2     1.3     .1       .1     -.2      .2
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 131.6   132.0   131.7     1.2    -.2       .3      .2     -.2
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............|  24.5    22.6    22.2   -26.0   -1.8     -1.3    -2.2    -1.8
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 152.4   152.8   152.8      .2    0         .3     0       0
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 160.1   160.4   162.3     1.8    1.2       .1      .2     1.2
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 143.1   143.6   142.1     2.2   -1.0      0        .2    -1.0
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 130.9   132.4   131.7     1.9    -.5      1.4     0       -.5
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 113.7   113.6   113.7    -1.0     .1      -.7      .1      .1
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 106.5   105.9   106.9     -.1     .9       .1     -.3      .9
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery 2/................| 125.6   126.1   126.4     1.3     .2      -.1      .4      .2
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 142.1   142.1   142.3      .4     .1       .1     -.2      .1
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.4   112.2   112.3     -.3     .1      0       -.2      .1
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 155.2   155.1   155.3      .2     .1      0       0        .1
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 152.0   159.6   159.0     -.1    -.4      2.0     0        .3
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 142.0   142.8   145.4     4.5    1.8       .1      .4     1.8
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 135.6   134.6   135.3     4.2     .5      -.1     -.5      .5
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 150.2   150.1   150.1     0      0         .1      .1     -.1
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 145.8   145.8   145.8      .3    0        0       0       0
14-4       |   Railroad equipment..................................| 135.2   135.3   134.1     -.1    -.9      -.3     -.1    -1.2
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 123.5   122.3   121.8    -2.9    -.4      -.2     -.2     -.2
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 116.4   114.6   115.2    -7.3     .5      -.5     -.2      .6
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 108.0   109.1   110.4    -3.3    1.2     -1.2     6.1     1.2
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 118.6   119.9   119.6     -.3    -.3       .7     -.7     -.3
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................|  93.6    93.4    92.9    -5.6    -.5     -1.7     3.2     -.9
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 130.8   124.3   131.0     3.9    5.4      9.1    -5.4     5.4
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 109.0    99.7   101.1   -21.1    1.4     -4.1    -2.1     1.4
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 123.9   122.7   122.2    -2.7    -.4      -.2     -.2     -.2
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 110.8   107.3   106.8    -3.3    -.5     -2.1    -1.5     -.5
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 113.0   111.9   111.3    -2.5    -.5      -.7     -.6     -.5
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 121.6   118.7   119.1    -2.1     .3      -.5    -1.7      .3
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 124.0   123.6   122.6     -.9    -.8       .1     -.5     -.6
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 130.4   130.7   130.6     0      -.1      -.1      .2     -.1
04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 179.7   178.9   177.7    -4.0    -.7      -.8     0      -1.3
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  55.7    54.5    55.3   -35.1    1.5     -3.6     2.1     1.5
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 |                                                       |                       |Nov. 1998 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |July   |Oct.   |Nov.   | Nov.  | Oct.  |Aug. to|Sept.to|Oct. to
           |                                                       |1998 1/|1998 1/|1998 1/| 1997  | 1998  |  Sept.|  Oct. |  Nov.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 137.6   130.6   126.5    -0.4   -3.1      1.0     0.7    -0.1
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 134.8   129.4   127.5     -.3   -1.5       .5     -.5     1.5
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 103.8   104.8   109.4    -7.7    4.4     -1.2      .1     -.7
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 100.7   100.8   110.3    -8.3    9.4      -.1    -1.9     4.7
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  75.1    76.8    86.2   -22.6   12.2     -2.9     8.7    -3.0
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  42.9    47.6    46.0   -27.8   -3.4     -1.4     4.6    -6.4
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  44.7    46.9    45.9   -30.2   -2.1      6.7    -5.8    -1.8
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  47.7    39.0    39.1   -37.8     .3     11.3    -5.6      .3
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 121.1   119.7   119.6    -5.2    -.1     -1.2     0       -.1
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 155.2   155.6   156.2     2.4     .4       .3      .2      .6
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 144.6   144.6   143.6      .8    -.7      -.2      .8     -.7
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 135.2   135.2   135.2      .2    0        0       0       0
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 114.6   113.7   113.2   -20.8    -.4     -3.7     2.4     -.4
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 115.1   114.2   113.7      .1    -.4       .5     -.9     -.3
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 110.7   101.6    98.5   -19.8   -3.1     -3.8    -4.3    -3.1
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 112.9   114.8   115.0     5.2     .2       .1      .7      .2
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals........................| 148.5   150.3   149.6     -.5    -.5      -.1      .3     -.8
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 125.0   119.0   117.1   -13.0   -1.6     -2.4    -3.3    -1.6
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 117.4   116.3   116.1    -1.9    -.2      -.4     -.6     -.2
07-21      |   Plastic construction products 2/....................| 125.6   125.0   124.7    -2.7    -.2      0       -.3     -.2
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes.....| 127.6   127.3   126.5    -3.7    -.6     -1.0      .2     -.9
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.0   116.9   116.9     -.2    0        -.1     0       0
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 181.6   171.2   169.4   -13.7   -1.1     -5.1    -1.8    -1.1
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber 2/..................................| 179.3   177.4   176.9     -.5    -.3      -.1     -.4     -.3
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 170.9   171.7   171.4      .4    -.2       .2      .3     -.2
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 159.1   157.3   162.0     2.6    3.0      2.8    -8.3     3.0
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 126.1   118.7   113.3   -14.7   -4.5     -2.9     -.8    -4.5
09-13      |   Paper...............................................| 145.5   145.6   144.8    -1.2    -.5      -.3      .1     -.7
09-14      |   Paperboard..........................................| 152.2   147.0   145.9    -5.5    -.7     -2.1    -2.2    -1.2
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 155.8   153.4   152.5     2.9    -.6       .3    -1.1     -.6
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 136.2   134.9   131.6    -1.6   -2.4       .5    -3.2    -2.4
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 152.2   153.1   153.0     1.4    -.1       .1      .4     -.1
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 134.9   135.0   134.7      .5    -.2       .1     0       -.2
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 114.8   111.7   110.7    -5.1    -.9     -1.1    -1.4     -.9
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 104.6   102.7   100.6   -16.4   -2.0      -.7      .3    -2.0
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 139.2   139.8   138.4    -7.5   -1.0      1.1     -.8    -1.0
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 149.0   150.7   149.7   -11.1    -.7      1.5     -.9     -.7
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 141.8   140.1   138.0    -5.0   -1.5      -.1     -.3    -1.5
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 108.5   108.5   108.6     -.3     .1      0       0        .1
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 147.3   147.1   147.1      .8    0         .1     -.1      .3
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 175.4   174.4   174.5     -.1     .1      -.1     0        .3
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 153.2   153.4   153.5      .3     .1       .1      .3      .1
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 143.0   143.1   143.1     1.3    0         .1      .1     0
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.3   130.3   130.6     1.2     .2      -.2      .1      .2
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 126.3   126.0   126.1     -.2     .1      -.2     0        .1
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 157.7   158.0   158.3     1.9     .2       .3      .5      .3
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 135.1   135.9   136.1     2.6     .1      1.0     0       0
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 156.6   156.8   158.6     2.9    1.1       .1     0       1.1
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 165.2   165.7   165.7     1.5    0         .4     -.1      .1
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 154.6   154.5   152.6    -1.3   -1.2       .1      .1    -1.2
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 145.6   146.2   146.1     1.1    -.1       .8      .1      .2
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 148.3   148.7   149.7     1.8     .7       .2      .5      .1
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  99.7   100.0    99.6    -2.0    -.4       .1      .1     -.4
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 141.0   141.0   141.1      .5     .1      -.1      .1     0
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 136.7   136.5   136.6      .7     .1      0        .1      .1
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 107.9   106.8   106.9    -1.5     .1      1.0     -.2      .1
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 147.6   148.0   148.3     5.5     .2       .2      .3      .5
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 141.3   141.5   141.5     3.5    0         .1     -.1     -.1
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................|  99.7   100.5   100.1      .9    -.4       .2      .1     -.4
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 179.1   180.1   186.5     7.9    3.6       .4      .7     3.6
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 125.5   126.0   126.0      .1    0         .4     0       0
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 114.8   114.3   114.2     -.9    -.1      -.1     0       -.1
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 136.6   136.1   136.2     1.0     .1      -.4     -.7      .2
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 142.6   143.1   143.3     1.5     .1      1.0     -.1      .1
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 129.0   129.0   129.0    -1.2    0        0       0       0
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 143.2   143.7   143.7      .4    0         .4     0        .1
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................|  98.1    93.9    92.9   -19.0   -1.1     -1.6     1.7    -1.4
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 103.7   103.4   102.4    -7.2   -1.0     -1.9     4.0    -1.9
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................|  83.9    85.7    89.9   -11.7    4.9     -2.5    14.6     4.9
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................|  89.8    80.5    84.1   -21.2    4.5     -6.5    13.9     7.3
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle....................................|  89.6    89.7    91.2    -7.4    1.7     -2.3     1.6    -2.1
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  57.2    46.8    30.2   -59.4  -35.5     -9.0      .4   -30.9
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 172.1   171.6   157.2    28.1   -8.4     -2.9     6.2   -11.2
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 109.6   135.5   138.1    12.1    1.9      3.7     4.7    -2.0
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 105.9   126.2   130.6    25.5    3.5      3.8     4.4     3.7
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................| 109.6    92.2    96.0   -22.9    4.1     -3.4     1.9     4.1
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 119.7   115.6   116.5      .1     .8     -2.0     -.3      .8

           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................|  90.6    83.9    83.0   -26.8   -1.1     -1.5     0      -1.1
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................| 121.8   114.0   112.3    -2.0   -1.5      5.9    -2.7      .2
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................|  95.8   109.6   106.4    -1.9   -2.9     11.0     5.3    -2.9
04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 160.6   141.1   130.5   -31.4   -7.5     -2.6   -13.0    -7.5
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  94.3    91.4    93.7     -.7    2.5     -3.0      .4     2.5
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................|  89.0    77.8    79.9   -37.2    2.7     -9.7     5.0     2.7
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  35.9    35.3    32.7   -42.0   -7.4     18.4    -2.2    -7.4
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 204.2   200.9   198.6    -6.4   -1.1     -1.0    -1.0    -1.1
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 146.7   132.6   126.9   -23.0   -4.3     -3.7    -4.3    -4.3
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  95.5    95.7    95.6      .4    -.1       .2     -.1     -.1
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 175.7   128.8   117.9   -39.8   -8.5     -9.6   -12.4    -8.5
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  68.6    66.0    64.2   -13.1   -2.7      1.2    -3.2    -2.7
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 114.0   111.2   109.8   -21.9   -1.3      -.2      .5    -1.3
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 150.5   147.8   147.6   -23.5    -.1      1.1     2.5      .1
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 153.6   153.5   153.6     3.3     .1      -.1      .2      .2
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1/  The indexes for July 1998 have been recalculated to incorporate                     2/  Not seasonally adjusted.
    late reports and corrections by respondents. All indexes are                        3/  Not available.
    subject to revision 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                    | July 1998 | Oct. 1998 | Nov. 1998 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   367.5   |   368.6   |   367.1   |
         | All commodities................................|   124.9   |   124.0   |   123.5   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   123.0   |   122.7   |   122.3   |
01       |   Farm products................................|   105.0   |   104.5   |   102.8   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   131.9   |   131.7   |   131.9   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   125.3   |   124.2   |   123.7   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   123.0   |   122.3   |   122.0   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   149.2   |   146.4   |   144.7   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    77.2   |    74.2   |    72.8   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   144.7   |   143.2   |   143.0   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   122.4   |   122.2   |   122.0   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   178.5   |   175.5   |   175.0   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   171.9   |   171.4   |   171.0   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   127.9   |   125.7   |   124.8   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   124.8   |   124.7   |   124.7   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   131.5   |   131.1   |   131.3   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   136.0   |   136.4   |   136.7   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   140.4   |   142.4   |   142.4   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   155.4   |   156.5   |   156.2   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   139.0   |   138.6   |   138.4   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   119.9   |   121.5   |   109.3   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|    92.0   |    84.6   |    88.5   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    81.8   |    78.7   |    74.9   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   156.7   |   161.8   |   151.4   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|   120.9   |   112.6   |   110.9   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|    95.2   |   111.7   |   124.7   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   130.4   |   113.8   |   117.8   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   120.7   |   103.0   |   108.8   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   142.9   |   163.5   |   158.7   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   157.3   |   157.5   |   157.8   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   114.9   |   112.0   |   110.8   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   125.4   |   126.0   |   122.0   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   134.4   |   134.7   |   134.6   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   137.1   |   136.6   |   137.3   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   139.9   |   133.7   |   135.3   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   139.9   |   139.4   |   141.1   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   126.6   |   126.7   |   126.6   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   144.7   |   144.8   |   144.7   |
05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|    79.3   |    70.7   |    72.5   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   135.4   |   130.0   |   126.9   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    52.1   |    51.0   |    48.4   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   247.7   |   246.9   |   247.5   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   129.1   |   128.3   |   127.4   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   134.9   |   134.8   |   134.8   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   115.1   |   115.2   |   115.1   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   116.8   |   115.6   |   115.5   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   138.4   |   138.8   |   138.6   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   129.1   |   128.8   |   128.5   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   178.9   |   171.1   |   169.7   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   147.7   |   145.5   |   144.6   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   152.8   |   151.2   |   150.9   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   124.2   |   117.5   |   115.8   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   121.6   |   120.0   |   118.3   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   133.9   |   134.2   |   133.4   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   147.2   |   147.4   |   147.5   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   147.5   |   147.8   |   148.2   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   159.3   |   159.6   |   160.2   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   120.8   |   120.8   |   120.7   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   132.1   |   132.1   |   132.1   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   151.2   |   151.6   |   151.7   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   148.8   |   148.9   |   149.1   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   130.2   |   133.4   |   133.4   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   132.4   |   132.4   |   132.5   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   114.4   |   114.3   |   113.3   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   134.6   |   135.2   |   134.8   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|

1/  Data for July 1998 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and
    corrections by respondents.  All data are subject to revision four 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_Nov._1998_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                  |                                              |     |July   |Oct.   |Nov.   |  Nov.  |  Oct.
                  |                                              |     |1998 2/|1998 2/|1998 2/|  1997  |  1998
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  72.3    68.1    67.9    -27.1    -0.3
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  74.7    72.8    71.2     -9.8    -2.2
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  89.9    88.0    89.4     -1.8     1.6
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  70.1    64.9    64.6    -34.1     -.5
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 132.6   132.8   132.8      2.4   0
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 126.2   126.4   126.2     -1.0     -.2
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 126.6   126.5   126.5      -.8   0
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 237.9   247.0   247.8     13.0      .3
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 118.7   117.8   117.9      -.9      .1
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 124.9   125.1   125.0       .6     -.1
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 157.0   155.3   155.2     -1.9     -.1
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 139.6   139.9   139.9       .7   0
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 136.7   135.3   134.8      -.8     -.4
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 173.7   174.8   175.0      2.3      .1
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 149.5   148.2   148.2       .6   0
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  67.0    65.5    62.9    -24.8    -4.0
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 121.9   121.8   121.6     -1.0     -.2
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 137.3   137.2   136.5     -1.0     -.5
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 129.9   130.2   130.5      2.1      .2
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 120.9   119.1   118.2     -5.1     -.8
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 128.8   128.9   129.0       .6      .1
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 117.7   117.4   117.4      -.5   0
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 110.4   110.1   110.0      -.7     -.1
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 132.7   135.2   135.2       .6   0
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.8   125.8   125.8    0       0
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 129.7   130.0   129.9       .6     -.1
                  |                                              |     |
                  |Services industries                           |     |
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 101.7   101.6   101.6       .7   0
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 111.9   112.5   112.4      3.1     -.1
       43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3   132.3   132.3    0       0
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 107.9   108.4   105.8      1.6    -2.4
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 124.2   125.2   125.9      2.0      .6
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86|  99.2    99.2    99.2       .5   0
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 107.8   108.1   108.2      1.9      .1
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 106.2   106.6   106.6      2.8   0
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 July 1998 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.
Table 5.  Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |     
                                                       |                      Index 1/   
                                                       |____________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |        |        |        |        |        |       
                                                       |  June  |  July  |  Aug.  |  Sep.  |  Oct.  |  Nov. 
                                                       |  1998  |  1998  |  1998  |  1998  |  1998  |  1998 
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
      Finished goods...................................|  130.5    130.7    130.2    130.6    130.9    130.7
        Finished consumer goods........................|  128.8    129.1    128.4    128.9    129.3    128.9
          Finished consumer foods......................|  134.0    134.6    134.0    134.6    135.1    134.4
            Crude......................................|  119.4    127.9    118.4    122.1    133.9    125.4
            Processed..................................|  135.2    135.1    135.3    135.6    135.1    135.1
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  126.3    126.5    125.8    126.2    126.6    126.4
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  122.4    122.4    121.7    121.8    122.2    121.9
            Durable goods..............................|  132.0    132.6    132.0    133.2    133.3    133.5
        Capital equipment..............................|  137.3    137.4    137.1    137.6    137.6    137.7
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  137.9    137.9    137.8    137.9    138.0    138.1
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  137.0    137.1    136.8    137.3    137.3    137.5
                                                       |
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  123.2    123.2    122.7    122.5    122.3    122.0
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  126.4    126.1    126.0    125.6    125.1    124.7
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  123.2    122.9    122.5    123.9    124.8    124.9
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  127.6    127.1    126.9    125.7    124.8    124.0
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  128.0    127.8    127.8    127.2    126.0    125.3
          Components for manufacturing.................|  126.0    125.8    125.8    125.8    125.8    125.7
        Materials and components for construction......|  146.7    147.1    147.3    147.3    146.8    146.7
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   81.1     81.2     79.3     79.9     80.3     79.7
          Manufacturing industries ....................|   85.9     86.1     84.4     85.1     84.6     85.4
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   78.2     78.1     76.2     76.7     77.6     76.3
        Containers.....................................|  141.5    141.4    140.8    140.9    140.1    139.5
        Supplies.......................................|  134.7    135.1    134.7    134.3    134.2    134.3
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  140.6    140.7    140.6    140.6    140.7    140.6
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  132.1    132.5    132.1    131.6    131.4    131.6
            Feeds......................................|   99.0    101.4     98.0     92.8     90.5     92.4
            Other supplies.............................|  136.2    136.4    136.3    136.3    136.3    136.3
                                                       |
      Crude materials for further processing...........|   97.5     97.6     94.0     92.5     94.1     92.8
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|  106.2    102.5    101.5     99.6    103.6    101.6
        Nonfood materials..............................|   88.0     90.6     85.5     84.2     84.2     83.3
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|   84.6     85.3     80.4     83.3     81.2     78.0
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   76.9     77.5     72.8     75.6     73.7     70.7
            Construction...............................|  195.6    194.7    195.3    194.1    193.0    190.5
          Crude fuel 3/................................|   85.7     90.7     85.6     78.8     81.6     83.9
            Manufacturing industries...................|   83.4     88.6     83.4     77.4     80.0     81.4
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|   87.4     92.5     87.3     80.3     83.1     85.7
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  129.3    129.5    128.9    129.3    129.6    129.5
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  123.6    123.6    123.2    123.0    122.7    122.4
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  115.8    116.3    115.0    114.4    114.2    114.9
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|   87.2     89.8     84.6     83.0     82.9     82.0
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   75.5     75.4     73.6     73.5     74.4     73.5
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  140.8    141.1    140.9    141.5    141.7    141.6
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  142.1    142.6    142.4    143.1    143.3    143.1
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  143.3    143.6    143.5    144.1    144.2    144.4
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  147.3    147.7    147.7    148.5    148.5    148.7
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  159.0    159.2    159.8    160.2    160.1    160.4
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|   80.9     80.9     79.1     79.6     80.0     79.4
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  132.6    132.6    132.4    132.1    131.6    131.4
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  133.7    133.6    133.6    133.2    132.8    132.5
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   66.9     70.9     65.3     64.2     65.4     65.4
      Crude materials less energy......................|  116.3    113.0    111.4    109.5    111.4    109.1
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  145.9    143.8    140.5    138.7    134.9    131.5
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1/  All seasonally adjusted indexes are subject to change up to five years after original publication 
      due to the recalculation of seasonal factors each January.  The indexes for July 1998 have been
      recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.  
  2/  Includes crude petroleum.
  3/  Excludes crude petroleum.

Technical Notes





Brief Explanation of
Producer Price Indexes

     Producer price indexes (PPI) measure average changes in
prices received by domestic producers of commodities in all
stages of processing. Most of the information used in
calculating the indexes is obtained through the systematic
sampling of nearly every industry in the manufacturing and
mining sectors of the economy. The PPI program also includes
some information from other sectors--agriculture, fishing,
forestry, services, and gas and electricity. Because
producer price indexes are designed to measure only the
change in prices received for the output of domestic
industries, imports are not included. The sample currently
contains about 3,200 commodities and 80,000 quotations per
month.
     There are three primary systems of indexes within the
PPI program: (1) Stage of processing indexes; (2) commodity
indexes; and (3) indexes for the net output of industries
and their products. The stage-of-processing structure
(tables 1 and 2) organizes products by class of buyer and
degree of processing. The commodity structure (tables 2 and
3) organizes products by similarity of end-use or material
composition. The entire output of various industries is
sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of
industries and their products (table 4).
     Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods
are commodities that will not undergo further processing and
are ready for sale to the final demand user, either an
individual consumer or business firm. Consumer foods include
unprocessed foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables, as well
as processed foods such as bakery products and meats. Other
finished consumer goods include durable goods such as
automobiles, household furniture, and appliances, and
nondurable goods such as apparel and home heating oil.
Capital equipment includes producer durable goods such as
heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine tools.
     The stage-of-processing category for intermediate
materials, supplies, and components consists partly of
commodities that have been processed but require further
processing. Examples of such semifinished goods include
flour, cotton yarn, steel mill products, and lumber. The
intermediate goods category also encompasses nondurable,
physically complete items purchased by business firms as
inputs for their operations. Examples include diesel fuel,
belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers.
     Crude materials for further processing are products
entering the market for the first time that have not been
manufactured or fabricated and that are not sold directly to
consumers. Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs include items
such as grains and livestock. Examples of crude nonfood
materials include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides
and skins, and iron and steel scrap.
     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries
and their products are grouped according to the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) and the Census product code
extension of the SIC. Industry price indexes are compatible
with other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such
as data on employment, wages, and productivity. Table 4
lists indexes for the net output of major mining and
manufacturing industry groups at the 2-digit level.
     Producer price indexes are based on selling prices
reported by establishments of all sizes selected by
probability sampling, with the probability of selection
proportionate to size. Individual items and transaction
terms from these firms are also chosen by probability
proportionate to size. BLS strongly encourages cooperating
companies to supply actual transaction prices at the time of
shipment to minimize the use of list prices. Prices are
normally reported by mail questionnaire for the Tuesday of
the week containing the 13th.
     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential
basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to
individual company price reports. All producer price indexes
are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months after
original publication, to reflect the availability of late
reports and corrections by respondents.
     Net output values of shipments are used as weights for
industry indexes. Net output values refer to the value of
shipments from establishments in one industry to
establishments classified in another industry. However,
weights for commodity price indexes are based on gross
shipment values, including shipment values between
establishments within the same industry. As a result, broad
commodity grouping indexes such as the all commodities index
are affected by the multiple counting of price change at
successive stages of processing, which can lead to
exaggerated or misleading signals about inflation. Stage-of-
processing indexes partially correct this defect, but
industry indexes consistently correct for this at all levels
of aggregation. Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing
indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings
for economic analysis of general price trends.
     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the
PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing
indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings,
currently reflect 1987 values of shipments as reported in
the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January
1987 through December 1991, PPI weights were derived from
1982 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are
also now calculated with 1987 net output weights.
     Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many
important PPI series (including stage-of-processing
groupings and most commodity groups and individual items)
were placed on a new reference base, 1982=100, to coincide
with the reference year of the shipment weights. From 1971
through 1987, the standard reference base for most PPI
series was 1967=100. Except for rounding differences, the
shift to the new reference base did not alter any changes to
previously published percent changes for affected PPI
series. (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.) The new
reference base is not used for indexes with a base later
than December 1981, nor for indexes for the net output of
industries and their products.
     For further information on the underlying concepts and
methodology of the Producer Price Index, see chapter 16,
"Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (September
1992), Bulletin 2414. Reprints are available from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics on request.

Calculating Index Changes

     Movements of price indexes from one month to another
are usually expressed as percent changes rather than as
changes in index points because index point chances are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period, while percent changes are not. The box shows the
computation of index point and percent changes.
     Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods can be
expressed as annual rates that are computed according to the
standard formula for compound growth rates. These data
indicate what the percent change would be if the rate for a
given 3- or 6-month span were maintained for a 12-month
period.





                Index Point Change

     Finished Goods Price Index    107.5
     Less previous index           104.0
     Equals index point change       3.5

          Index Percent Change

     Index point change              3.5
     Divided by the previous index 104.0
     Equals                          0.034
     Result multiplied by 100        0.034 x 100
     Equals percent change           3.4

     Each index measures price changes from a reference
period which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). An
increase of 5.5 percent from the reference period in the
Finished Goods Price Index, for example, is shown as 105.5.
This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:
"Prices received by domestic producers of a systematic
sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to
$105.50 to-day." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would
indicate that prices received by producers of finished goods
today are 10 percent lower than they were in 1982.

Seasonally Adjusted
and Unadjusted Data

     Because price data are used for different purposes by
different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
month.
     Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing
general price trends in the economy because they eliminate
the effect of changes that normally occur at about the same
time and in about the same magnitude every year-such as
price movements resulting from normal weather patterns,
regular production and marketing cycles, model changeovers,
seasonal discounts, and holidays. For these reasons,
seasonally adjusted data more clearly reveal underlying
cyclical trends.
     Unadjusted data are of primary interest to users who
need information which can be related to actual dollar
values of transactions. Individuals requiring this
information include marketing specialists, purchasing
agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and
commodity traders. It is the unadjusted data that are
generally cited in escalating long-term contracts such as
purchasing agreements or real estate leases. (See Escalation
and Producer Price Indexes: A Guide for Contracting Parties,
BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from
BLS.)
     For more information, see "Appendix A: Seasonal
Adjustment Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of
Methods (September 1992), Bulletin 2414.