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http://www.bls.gov/ppi              OCTOBER 10, 2003
                                     
                 Producer Price Indexes -- September 2003

     The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today that the seasonally adjusted Producer Price Index for
Finished Goods gained 0.3 percent in September.  This increase followed a
0.4-percent advance in August and a 0.1-percent rise in July.  The index
for finished goods other than foods and energy showed no change in
September, compared with a 0.1-percent increase in the preceding month.  At
the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of
intermediate goods fell 0.1 percent, after a 0.5-percent gain in August.
The index for crude materials turned up 3.4 percent in September, following
a 1.4-percent decrease in the prior month.  (See table A.)

Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-processing price
indexes, seasonally adjusted
 ______________________________________________________________________________________
|        |                                                         |         |         |
|        |                   Finished goods                        |         |         |
|        |                                                         |         |         |
|        |---------------------------------------------------------|         |         |
|        |          |          |          |         |  Change in   |         |         |
|        |          |          |          | Except  |finished goods| Inter-  |         |
|        |          |          |          |foods and|from 12 months| mediate |  Crude  |
| Month  |  Total   |  Foods   |  Energy  | energy  |  ago(unadj.) | goods   |  goods  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 2002                                                   
   Sept.      0.3       -0.4         1.2       0.3        -1.8         0.5        2.2
   Oct.        .8         .4         3.4        .3          .7          .7        2.2
   Nov.       -.3         .4        -1.6       -.1         1.0         -.1        3.7
   Dec.       -.3         .4          .2       -.6         1.2         -.1        2.0
                                                                               
 2003                                                                          
   Jan.       1.4        1.9         4.6        .3         2.5         1.2        7.6
   Feb.       1.1         .4         7.4       -.1         3.3         2.0        5.2
   Mar.       1.4         .2         5.4        .7         4.0         2.1       13.0
   Apr.      -1.7         .8        -8.1       -.7         2.4        -2.3      -15.8
   May        -.4       r .1      r -2.9      r .1         2.5         -.7      r 1.4
   June      r .6       r .3       r 3.3       -.1         2.9          .5      r 4.6
   July        .1        -.2          .3        .2         3.0          .2       -2.9
   Aug.        .4         .7         1.2        .1         3.4          .5       -1.4
   Sept.       .3        1.2          .1         0         3.5         -.1        3.4
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ 
from those previously reported because data for May 2003 have been revised to reflect
the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -2-

     Most of the September increase in the index for finished goods was due
to prices for finished consumer foods, which rose 1.2 percent compared with
a 0.7-percent increase in August.  Prices for finished consumer goods other
than foods and energy advanced at a 0.1-percent rate for the third
consecutive month.  The finished energy goods index inched up 0.1 percent
in September, following a 1.2-percent climb in the prior month.
Alternatively, prices for capital equipment decreased 0.1 percent, after
rising 0.1 percent in August.

     During the third quarter of 2003, the finished goods index increased
at a 3.4-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after falling at a 5.9-
percent rate during the second quarter of 2003.  The index for finished
goods other than foods and energy climbed at a 1.3-percent seasonally
adjusted annual rate during the third quarter of 2003, compared with a 2.4-
percent rate of decline during the second quarter of 2003.  Among prices
for raw and partially processed goods, the intermediate goods index
advanced at a 2.1-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate during the third
quarter of 2003, following a 9.9-percent rate of decline from March to
June.  Crude goods prices decreased at a 4.1-percent seasonally adjusted
annual rate from June to September, compared with a 36.4-percent rate of
decrease in the preceding quarter.  (See summary below.)

Summary of December-to-December, 9-month, and 3-month seasonally adjusted annual rates for 
selected stages of processing
 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
|                               |     Percentage     |                                           |
|                               |      change 12     |  Seasonally adjusted annual rate for:     |
|                               |    months ended    |                                           |
|           Grouping            |     in December    |                                           |
|                               |--------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|                               |      |      |      |9 months  |3 months  |3 months  |3 months  |
|                               | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |ended in  |ended in  |ended in  |ended in  |
|                               |      |      |      |Sept. 2003|Mar. 2003 |June 2003 |Sept. 2003|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Finished goods                     3.6   -1.6    1.2      4.3       16.8        -5.9       3.4
   Finished consumer foods         1.7    1.8    -.6      7.3       10.1         5.1       6.8
   Finished energy goods          16.6  -17.1   12.3     14.8       96.8       -27.8       6.5
   Finished goods less foods        
   and energy                      1.3     .9    -.5       .8        3.5        -2.4       1.3
      Finished consumer goods,       
      excluding foods and                
      energy                       1.4    1.5    -.5       .8        4.1        -3.0       1.3
      Capital equipment            1.2      0    -.6       .9        2.9        -1.7       1.4
                                                                         
Intermediate materials, supplies,       
and components                     4.1   -4.0    3.2      4.3       23.4        -9.9       2.1
   Intermediate foods and feeds    3.6     .3    4.2      9.6        8.0        12.4       8.6
   Intermediate energy goods      19.0  -16.9   12.0     14.6      149.0       -42.8       5.6
   Intermediate materials less     
   foods and energy                1.6   -1.6    1.5      2.0        6.0         -.9        .9
      Materials for nondurable            
      manufacturing                4.1   -5.5    4.2      4.9       28.1        -8.6      -1.5
      Materials for durable     
      manufacturing                 .2   -4.0    3.1      2.4        1.6          .6       5.1
      Materials and components             
      for construction              .1      0     .8      3.0        2.4         1.1       5.6
                                                                        
Crude materials for further   
processing                        35.5  -32.5   24.7     17.8      168.1       -36.4      -4.1
   Foodstuffs and feedstuffs       7.4   -7.6    4.5     20.3       18.0        10.1      34.2
   Crude energy materials         85.6  -52.9   61.5     18.3      579.4       -61.3     -37.0
   Crude nonfood materials    
   less energy                    -5.5   -9.9   12.6     12.1       19.0        -9.4      30.7
NOTE: Late reports and corrections by respondents may cause some indexes to change 4 months 
after original publication.  In addition, seasonally adjusted indexes may be revised for 5 
years due to the recalculation of seasonal factors each January.

                                    -3-

     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods increased 0.3 percent in September to 143.9 (1982=100).  From
September 2002 to September 2003, prices for finished goods increased 3.5
percent.  During the same period, the index for finished energy goods
advanced 12.9 percent, the index for finished consumer foods gained 6.6
percent, and prices for finished goods other than foods and energy edged up
0.1 percent.  At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by
manufacturers of intermediate goods increased 3.7 percent for the 12 months
ended in September 2003, while the crude goods index ascended 22.3 percent.

Finished goods

     Prices for finished consumer foods rose at a faster rate in September
than in August, rising 1.2 percent after increasing 0.7 percent in the
preceding month.  The index for fresh and dry vegetables jumped 20.7
percent in September, compared with a 4.3-percent advance in the prior
month.  Prices for beef and veal and eggs for fresh use also rose at a
faster rate in September than they did in August.  The indexes for pork,
soft drinks, bakery products, and processed turkeys turned up in September.
Alternatively, the index for fresh fruits and melons dropped 1.9 percent in
September, after posting an increase of 7.1 percent in the previous month.
Prices for shortening and cooking oils also turned down, after rising in
August.  September prices for processed young chickens fell more quickly
than they did a month earlier, while prices for dairy products rose less in
September than in August.  During the third quarter of 2003, the index for
finished consumer foods increased at a 6.8-percent seasonally adjusted
annual rate, after advancing at a 5.1-percent rate in the second quarter of
2003.

Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for 
intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted
 __________________________________________________________________________________
|      |                                     |                                     |
|      |       Intermediate goods            |       Crude goods                   |
|      |                                     |                                     |
|      |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      |       |        |         |Change in |       |         |         | Change  |
|      |       |        |         | interme- |       |         |         |in crude |
|      |       |        |         |  diate   |       |         |         | goods   |
|      |       |        |         |goods from|       |         |         | from 12 |
|      |       |        | Except  |12 months |       |         | Except  | months  |
|      |       |        |foods and|   ago    |       | Energy  |foods and|  ago    |
|Month | Foods | Energy | energy  | (unadj.) | Foods | (unadj.)| energy  |(unadj.) |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 2002                                                           
   Sept.   1.1      2.2      0.1       -0.6      1.3      4.6      -0.2       3.1
   Oct.    -.3      3.4       .2        1.6       .2      5.1        .3      15.4
   Nov.     .5     -1.2       .1        2.4      1.1      7.8       1.4      13.7
   Dec.    1.0      -.5      -.1        3.2      1.3      3.3        .2      24.7
                                                                          
 2003                                                                      
   Jan.    1.5      5.6       .4        4.5      5.3     13.0       1.3      28.7
   Feb.     .7      7.9       .7        6.6       .7      9.9       3.4      36.7
   Mar.    -.3     10.2       .4        8.0     -1.8     30.1       -.3      46.8
   Apr.     .1    -11.0      -.2        4.6      1.2    -30.7      -1.1      18.2
   May   r 1.1   r -4.4        0        4.2    r 2.0    r 1.9     r -.7      19.1
   June  r 1.8    r 2.1        0        4.5    r -.7   r 11.7     r -.6      29.4
   July    -.4      1.3      -.1        4.4     -3.0     -4.4        .8      24.5
   Aug.     .2      2.4       .1        4.4      3.7     -7.4       3.7      20.9
   Sept.   2.3     -2.3       .1        3.7      7.0       .6       2.3      22.3
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may 
differ from those previously reported because data for May 2003 have been revised 
to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

                                    -4-

     Prices for finished consumer goods other than foods and energy moved
up 0.1 percent in September, the same rate of increase as in August.
Rising prices for pharmaceutical preparations, mobile homes, soaps and
synthetic detergents, light motor trucks, and cigarettes slightly
outweighed falling prices for passenger cars, book publishing, sporting and
athletic goods, floor coverings, and alcoholic beverages.  From June 2003
to September 2003, the index for finished consumer goods other than foods
and energy rose at a 1.3-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after
falling at a 3.0-percent annual rate from March 2003 to June 2003.

     The index for finished energy goods edged up 0.1 percent in September,
after posting a 1.2-percent advance in August.  Price increases for
gasoline slowed from August to September -- up 6.3 and 2.2 percent,
respectively.  The residential electric power index also rose less in
September than it did in the prior month.  Prices for home heating oil and
diesel fuel turned down in September.  Conversely, residential natural gas
prices turned up 1.6 percent, compared with a decline of 1.5 percent in
August.  During the third quarter of 2003, the index for finished energy
goods increased at a 6.5-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after
decreasing at a 27.8-percent rate for the second quarter of 2003.

     Capital equipment prices turned down 0.1 percent in September,
following a 0.1-increase in August.  In September, price decreases for
communication and related equipment, passenger cars, x-ray and
electromedical equipment, and printing trades machinery slightly outweighed
rising prices for civilian aircraft, light motor trucks, commercial
furniture, tools and dies, and welding machines and equipment.  From June
2003 to September 2003, capital equipment prices rose at a 1.4-percent
seasonally adjusted annual rate, after a 1.7-percent rate of decline from
March 2003 to June 2003.

   Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components inched down 0.1 percent in September, after posting a 0.5-
percent gain in the previous month.  Prices for both intermediate energy
goods and materials for nondurable manufacturing turned down, following
increases in August.  By contrast, the indexes for materials and components
for construction, intermediate foods and feeds, and materials for durable
manufacturing rose at a faster pace in September than they did a month
earlier.  Excluding foods and energy, prices for intermediate goods edged
up 0.1 percent, the same rate of increase as in August.  (See table B.)

     The index for intermediate energy goods fell 2.3 percent in September,
following a 2.4-percent increase in the prior month.  Diesel fuel prices
dropped 17.0 percent, compared with a 2.7-percent gain in the previous
month.  The indexes for jet fuels, industrial natural gas, natural gas to
electric utilities, residual fuel, and home heating oil also turned down,
after rising in August.  Gasoline prices advanced at a slower rate in
September than they did a month earlier.  Alternatively, the commercial
electric power index moved up 2.2 percent in September, compared with a 1.0-
percent increase in the preceding month.  Prices for commercial natural gas
rose, after showing no change in August.  The intermediate energy goods
index increased at a 5.6-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate during the
third quarter of 2003, after declining at a 42.8-percent rate in the
previous quarter.

                                    -5-

     Prices for materials for nondurable manufacturing decreased 1.2
percent in September, following a 1.1-percent rise a month earlier.  The
primary basic organic chemicals index declined 0.8 percent, compared with a
7.9-percent advance in the prior month.  Prices for finished fabrics and
for processed yarns and threads also turned down, following gains in the
preceding month.  Paperboard prices moved down, after showing no change in
the previous month.  The index for fertilizer materials increased less than
it did in August.  On the other hand, the index for plastic resins and
materials increased 0.6 percent in September, following a 1.2-percent drop
in the prior month.  Prices for sulfuric acid and synthetic rubber turned
up, after declining in August.  The intermediate basic organic chemicals
index rose more than it did in the previous month. Paper prices fell at a
slower pace in September than they did a month earlier.  The index for
nondurable manufacturing materials declined at a 1.5-percent seasonally
adjusted annual rate from June 2003 to September 2003, following an 8.6-
percent rate of decrease in the second quarter of 2003.

     Prices for materials and components for construction advanced 0.9
percent in September, compared with a 0.1-percent increase in the prior
month.  The index for softwood lumber jumped 10.2 percent, following a 0.4-
percent gain in August.  Prices for plywood, treated wood, and millwork
also moved up at a faster rate in September than they did in the prior
month.  The indexes for gypsum products and plastic construction products
turned up, after falling a month earlier.  On the other hand, prices for
concrete products declined 0.4 percent in September, following a 0.2-
percent rise in the preceding month.  The indexes for paving mixtures and
blocks and for wiring devices also fell, after advancing in August.  Prices
for fabricated ferrous wire products showed no change, following an
increase in the previous month.  The steel mill products index rose less
than it did a month earlier.  Prices for materials and components for
construction grew at a 5.6-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate during
the third quarter of 2003, after increasing at a 1.1-percent rate during
the preceding quarter.

     The index for intermediate foods and feeds moved up 2.3 percent in
September, following a 0.2-percent increase in the previous month.
Accounting for much of this acceleration, prices for prepared animal feeds
climbed 4.4 percent, compared with a 2.3-percent decrease in the prior
month.  The indexes for pork and confectionery materials also turned up,
following declines in the previous month.  Prices for fluid milk products
and for beef and veal advanced at a faster pace than they did in August.
By contrast, prices for crude vegetable oils dropped 2.7 percent in
September, following a 3.6-percent gain in the preceding month.  The
indexes for natural, processed, and imitation cheese; shortening and
cooking oils; flour; and refined sugar and sugar byproducts also turned
down, after rising in the prior month.  Prices for processed young chickens
fell more than they did in August.  The index for intermediate foods and
feeds advanced at an 8.6-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate from June
2003 to September 2003, compared with a 12.4-percent rate of increase
during the second quarter.

     Prices for materials for durable manufacturing climbed 0.9 percent in
September, following a 0.6-percent increase in the preceding month.  The
index for plywood jumped 17.1 percent, after moving up 1.9 percent a month
earlier.  Prices for building paper and board also rose more in September
than they did in August.  The indexes for copper cathode and refined
copper, hot rolled steel sheet and strip, soft fiber cordage and twine
(except cotton), and cement increased, following declines in the prior
month.  On the other hand, price increases for cold rolled steel sheet and
strip slowed from 2.4 percent in August to 0.7 percent in September.  The
indexes for primary aluminum (except extrusion billet) and semifinished
steel mill products turned down, after advancing in the previous month.
Prices for aluminum mill shapes fell at a faster rate in September than
they did in August.  The index for hot rolled bars, plates, and structural
shapes rose less than it did a month earlier.  Prices for durable
manufacturing materials advanced at a 5.1-percent seasonally adjusted
annual rate in the third quarter of 2003, following a 0.6-percent rate of
increase in the previous quarter.

                                    -6-

  Crude goods

     A 3.4-percent increase in the Producer Price Index for Crude Materials
for Further Processing followed a 1.4-percent decline in August.  Prices
for crude energy materials rose, after falling in the prior month, and the
index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs advanced at a faster rate in
September than it did in August.  Conversely, price increases slowed from
August to September for crude nonfood materials less energy.  (See table
B.)

     Subsequent to a 7.4-percent drop in August, the index for crude energy
materials went up 0.6 percent in September.  Natural gas prices increased
5.4 percent in September, following a 13.1-percent decrease in the prior
month.  The coal index moved up 1.4 percent -- just outpacing the 1.3-
percent gain observed in the preceding month.  By contrast, crude petroleum
prices fell 8.4 percent in September, after rising 1.5 percent in August.
During the third quarter of 2003, the index for crude energy materials
declined at a 37.0-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after dropping
at a 61.3-percent rate during the previous calendar quarter.

     Price increases for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs accelerated in
September; a 7.0-percent gain followed a 3.7-percent advance in August.
The index for slaughter cattle climbed 11.0 percent, compared with a 6.1-
percent increase in the prior month.  Prices for fresh and dry vegetables
and unprocessed finfish also rose at a quicker pace in September.  The
indexes for corn, soybeans, and slaughter turkeys turned up, after falling
in August.  Conversely, wheat prices moved down 2.6 percent in September,
following an 11.6-percent jump in the preceding month.  The indexes for
slaughter broilers and fryers and for fresh fruits and melons also went
down, after advancing in August.  Prices for fluid milk and slaughter hogs
rose less than they did in the previous month.  After moving up at a 10.1-
percent seasonally adjusted annual rate during the second quarter of 2003,
prices for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs increased at a 34.2-percent rate
during the June to September period.

     Prices for basic industrial materials went up 2.3 percent, following a
3.7-percent rise in August.  The index for iron and steel scrap climbed 4.8
percent in September, after posting an 8.8-percent gain a month earlier.
Prices for hides and skins, copper base scrap, and for softwood logs,
bolts, and timber also increased at a slower rate in September.  The
indexes for aluminum base scrap and phosphates moved down, following August
advances.  On the other hand, raw cotton prices increased 5.6 percent in
September, compared with a 7.7-percent decline in the previous month.  The
indexes for gold ores; construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone;
pulpwood; and wastepaper rose more than they did in August.  For the
calendar quarter ended September 2003, the index for crude nonfood
materials less energy increased at a 30.7-percent seasonally adjusted
annual rate, which followed a 9.4-percent rate of decrease in the calendar
quarter ended June 2003.

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and service industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining
Industries rose 0.8 percent in September, after declining 6.0 percent in
August.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.)  Prices
received by the natural gas liquids and natural gas residue industry turned
up 3.3 percent, following a 10.7-percent drop in the preceding month.  The
indexes for the crude petroleum and natural gas industry and for rock salt
fell less in September than they did in August.  Prices received by the
industries for gold ores and for crushed and broken limestone rose at a
faster rate than they did a month earlier.  Alternatively, the industry
index for oil and gas well drilling declined 1.2 percent in September,
after increasing 1.8 percent in the previous month.  The indexes for the
bituminous coal underground mining and potash, soda, and borate minerals
industries increased more slowly in September than they did in August.  For
the three months ended in September 2003, the index for the net output of
total mining industries fell at a 30.7-percent seasonally adjusted annual
rate, after decreasing at a 55.3-percent rate in the prior quarter.  In
September, this index was 126.2 (December 1984 = 100), 26.1 percent above
its year-ago level.

                                    -7-

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Manufacturing Industries edged up 0.1 percent in September, after climbing
0.4 percent in August.  Prices rose in September for the following industry
groups:  food and kindred products, lumber and wood products (except
furniture), fabricated metal products (except machinery and transportation
equipment), primary metals, and printing and publishing.  These increases
slightly outweighed price declines for petroleum refining and related
products; transportation equipment; electrical and electronic machinery,
equipment, and supplies; non-electrical machinery; and rubber and
miscellaneous plastic products.  From June 2003 to September 2003, the
index for the net output of total manufacturing industries rose at a 2.7-
percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, after decreasing at a 7.0-percent
rate in the second quarter of 2003.  In September, this index was 137.1
(December 1984 = 100), 1.6 percent above its year-ago level.

Services.  Among service industries, prices received by the industries for
property and casualty insurance, legal services, life insurance carriers,
television broadcasting, and offices of physicians increased in September.
On the other hand, the industry indexes for hotels and motels; telephone
communications (except radiotelephone); security brokers, dealers, and
investment banking companies; and cable and other pay television services
declined in September.

                                   *****
            Producer Price Index data for October 2003 will be
        released on Friday, November 14, 2003, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

                             NAICS Conversion

     The net output price indexes will be converted from the 1987 Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) basis with the February 2004 release of
January 2004 indexes.  The NAICS conversion involves major definitional
changes to many of the currently published SIC-based indexes.  After the
conversion to NAICS, SIC-based indexes will no longer be produced or
published.  Historical index data based on the NAICS publication structure
will be available depending on the scope of the definitional changes
between SIC and NAICS.

     For more information contact the Division of Industrial Prices and
Price Indexes, Section of Index Analysis and Public Information at ppi-
info@bls.gov or (202) 691-7705.

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|                       |Sept.2003 from:|                          
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |        
                                                 |          | May   |Aug.   |Sept.  |  Sept.| Aug.  |June to|July  to |Aug.  to
                                                 |   2002 1/|2003 2/|2003 2/|2003 2/|  2002 | 2003  |  July |   Aug.  |  Sept. 
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   142.0   143.5   143.9     3.5    0.3      0.1      0.4     0.3   
  Finished consumer goods........................|   73.339   143.7   145.7   146.3     4.5     .4       .1       .6      .3   
    Finished consumer foods......................|   20.672   144.6   146.2   147.9     6.6    1.2      -.2       .7     1.2   
      Crude......................................|    1.333   133.1   127.8   136.8    15.0    7.0      1.0      5.6     5.5   
      Processed..................................|   19.339   145.5   147.7   148.8     6.1     .7      -.3       .3      .8   
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   52.667   143.0   145.1   145.3     3.6     .1       .1       .5      .1   
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   36.364   146.3   149.7   150.2     5.2     .3       .2       .5      .1   
      Durable goods..............................|   16.303   132.4   131.6   131.1     0      -.4       .2       .2     -.1   
  Capital equipment..............................|   26.661   139.0   139.3   139.1      .6    -.1       .4       .1     -.1   
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.839   139.5   140.5   140.4      .5    -.1       .4       .1     0     
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   18.822   138.8   138.8   138.5      .6    -.2       .3       .1     -.1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   132.5   134.0   134.1     3.7     .1       .2       .5     -.1   
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   46.896   129.3   130.0   129.8     2.3    -.2      -.2       .5     -.2   
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    2.918   130.8   135.5   137.1    10.7    1.2      -.7      1.3     1.2   
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   14.707   137.0   137.9   136.3     3.7   -1.2      -.3      1.1    -1.2   
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|    9.136   126.8   127.9   128.9     2.4     .8      -.2       .6      .9   
    Components for manufacturing.................|   20.136   126.1   125.9   125.9     0      0         .1      -.1     0     
  Materials and components for construction......|   12.772   152.9   153.8   155.1     2.0     .8       .3       .1      .9   
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   16.110   108.0   113.6   113.3    12.6    -.3       .9      2.0    -1.6   
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    6.430   113.2   118.2   117.4    15.7    -.7      1.5      1.8    -1.3   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    9.680   104.8   110.7   110.7    10.6    0         .5      2.0    -1.7   
  Containers.....................................|    3.248   153.9   153.6   153.6      .7    0        -.1      -.1     0     
  Supplies.......................................|   20.974   141.5   141.4   141.7     1.5     .2       .1      -.1      .2   
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    4.589   146.8   147.0   146.7     1.3    -.2       .1      0       -.2   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   16.385   139.0   138.8   139.2     1.5     .3       .1      -.2      .3   
      Feeds......................................|    1.097   104.6   101.8   107.4     3.1    5.5       .4     -2.8     5.5   
      Other supplies.............................|   15.288   143.2   143.3   143.3     1.4    0         .1      -.1     0     
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   130.9   131.4   135.6    22.3    3.2     -2.9     -1.4     3.4   
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   38.685   111.0   111.5   118.7    17.9    6.5     -3.0      3.7     7.0   
  Nonfood materials..............................|   61.315   142.4   142.9   144.5    25.2    1.1     -2.9     -4.2     1.1   
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   33.142   109.2   117.0   114.6     5.8   -2.1       .1      2.7    -2.1   
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   32.295   100.3   107.6   105.3     5.9   -2.1       .1      2.8    -2.1   
      Construction...............................|    0.847   180.5   179.7   181.3     -.5     .9      -.3      1.0      .9   
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   28.173   183.7   171.8   180.1    56.1    4.8     -5.8    -11.2     4.8   
      Manufacturing industries...................|    2.540   174.7   163.6   171.3    53.6    4.7     -5.8    -10.8     4.7   
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   25.633   187.9   175.7   184.1    56.1    4.8     -5.9    -11.2     4.8   
                                                 |                                                                             
               Special groupings                 |                                                                             
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 79.328   141.1   142.6   142.6     2.6    0         .3       .4     0     
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.985   133.1   134.6   134.5     3.5    -.1       .1       .6     -.3   
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.015   122.8   125.1   128.0     8.5    2.3      -.4       .2     2.3   
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 59.316   145.0   145.0   146.4    25.6    1.0     -3.1     -4.6     1.0   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 14.951    98.9   104.3   105.0    12.9     .7       .3      1.2      .1   
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 85.049   148.3   148.7   149.0     1.8     .2       .1       .3      .3   
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 58.388   152.3   152.7   153.3     2.3     .4      0         .3      .5   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 64.377   150.0   149.9   149.7      .1    -.1       .2       .1     0     
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 37.716   157.4   157.0   156.9     -.1    -.1       .1       .1      .1   
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.413   177.6   177.6   177.8     -.3     .1       .1       .1      .1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 16.468   107.1   113.5   112.4    12.0   -1.0      1.3      2.4    -2.3   
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 83.532   137.5   137.7   138.0     2.0     .2      -.1       .1      .3   
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 79.517   138.5   138.6   138.8     1.7     .1      -.1       .1      .1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 41.909   141.4   139.9   140.7    32.9     .6     -4.4     -7.4      .6   
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 58.093   120.0   121.7   127.9    15.6    5.1     -1.8      3.7     5.5   
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 19.406   146.5   152.0   155.5    11.1    2.3       .8      3.7     2.3   
                                                 |                                                                             
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                               
  1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          4/  Excludes crude petroleum.                  
      after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            5/  Percent of total finished goods.           
      after final December indexes are available.                               6/  Percent of total intermediate materials.   
  2/  The indexes for May 2003 have been recalculated to incorporate            7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for       
      late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     further processing, excluding crude        
      are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.                  foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and       
  3/  Includes crude petroleum.                                                     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 |                                                       |                       |Sept.2003 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       | May   |Aug.   |Sept.  | Sept. | Aug.  |June to|July to|Aug. to  
           |                                                       |2003 1/|2003 1/|2003 1/| 2002  | 2003  |  July |  Aug. |  Sept.  
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 142.0   143.5   143.9     3.5    0.3      0.1     0.4     0.3   
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 143.7   145.7   146.3     4.5     .4       .1      .6      .3   
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 144.6   146.2   147.9     6.6    1.2      -.2      .7     1.2   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  89.9    84.3    82.7    -9.4   -1.9       .6     7.1    -1.9   
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 146.2   125.6   151.6    31.6   20.7     -4.1     4.3    20.7   
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  83.1   114.4   111.1    42.6   -2.9      8.2     3.2     5.2   
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 195.4   195.1   195.4     2.7     .2       .2     -.1      .2   
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................|  99.1   105.9   111.9    33.9    5.7      2.2     4.7     5.7   
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 126.5   126.5   127.0     4.5     .4      0       0        .4   
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal 2/....................................| 129.6   135.6   141.3    25.8    4.2     -5.6     3.8     4.2   
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 116.5   117.7   116.8    14.5    -.8     -4.0    -3.7     4.6   
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 117.1   123.1   124.9    13.6    1.5      2.1     -.3    -1.6   
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................|  89.3    89.7    93.6    -2.1    4.3      1.0     -.7     2.0   
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 199.7   194.3   195.7     1.9     .7     -2.1      .8      .5   
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 134.1   143.6   147.5    10.2    2.7      3.4     2.4     2.0   
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 133.6   133.0   132.8     -.2    -.2       .2     -.4     -.2   
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 183.0   184.0   183.9     5.4    -.1       .5     0       -.1   
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 152.7   152.2   152.5      .7     .2      0       -.3      .4   
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 127.5   127.8   127.7     5.1    -.1      -.1      .1     -.1   
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 157.9   159.5   156.7     7.0   -1.8      -.3      .5    -1.8   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 143.0   145.1   145.3     3.6     .1       .1      .5      .1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 148.9   148.6   148.3      .9    -.2       .1     -.2     -.1   
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 124.5   122.3   122.3     -.6    0        0        .1     0     
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel 2/..........................| 126.9   126.9   126.8     -.9    -.1      -.2      .4     -.1   
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 119.2   120.6   120.2      .7    -.3      0        .5     -.3   
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.4   122.1   122.2     0       .1      -.6      .6      .1   
04-3       |   Footwear 2/.........................................| 147.3   147.6   147.5     1.1    -.1       .1     0       -.1   
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 117.1   123.8   124.1     3.8     .2      -.3      .5      .1   
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 169.6   168.1   170.2    29.5    1.2      0      -1.5     1.6   
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  94.5   106.4   109.9    21.7    3.3      3.6     6.3     2.2   
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  82.9    91.6    85.1    -1.5   -7.1      1.7     1.6   -14.3   
06-38      |   Pharmaceutical preparations (June 2001=100) 2/......| 106.8   107.8   108.2     4.7     .4       .6      .3      .4   
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 129.5   130.1   130.9      .5     .6       .5     0        .6   
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 140.6   140.4   140.5      .6     .1       .1     0        .1   
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  97.6    98.0    98.3     3.1     .3       .6     -.1      .3   
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 150.6   150.2   150.3      .4     .1      -.2      .2      .1   
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 229.9   229.9   230.3     1.9     .2      0       0        .2   
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 220.6   220.7   220.1     4.0    -.3       .3     -.3     -.1   
09-33      |   Book publishing.....................................| 242.3   244.8   243.5     2.9    -.5       .6      .2     -.7   
12-1       |   Household furniture.................................| 158.2   158.2   158.0      .4    -.1       .1      .1     -.1   
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 132.6   134.7   134.0     2.1    -.5       .6     -.1     -.5   
12-4       |   Household appliances 2/.............................| 102.5   101.8   101.7    -2.6    -.1      -.2     -.3     -.1   
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  67.9    67.0    66.9    -2.8    -.1      -.9     0       -.1   
12-62      |   Household glassware.................................| 169.2   169.1   167.8    -1.2    -.8       .1      .1     -.7   
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 145.2   145.2   145.2     0      0        0       0       0     
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 133.4   132.0   131.9    -1.5    -.1       .5    -1.5     -.1   
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 129.1   126.3   125.1     -.1   -1.0       .4      .3     -.5   
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles 2/.............| 125.0   125.0   125.1      .2     .1      0       0        .1   
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 125.1   124.1   123.4    -1.6    -.6      -.6     -.4     -.6   
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 429.7   429.7   430.3    -7.8     .1      0       0        .1   
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 168.7   169.7   171.4     2.6    1.0       .2      .3     1.0   
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 131.5   131.6   132.2     1.6     .5      -.3      .1      .5   
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 144.8   144.8   144.8      .3    0        0        .3     0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 139.0   139.3   139.1      .6    -.1       .4      .1     -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 160.3   160.1   160.2      .8     .1       .1     -.3      .1   
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 153.4   153.6   153.8     1.5     .1       .1      .1      .1   
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 150.8   150.5   150.5    -2.1    0         .1      .1     0     
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 167.3   167.7   167.9      .4     .1       .2     0        .1   
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 139.4   139.2   139.6     -.7     .3       .4     0        .3   
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 162.7   163.7   163.3     1.1    -.2      -.1      .4     -.2   
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 137.7   138.2   138.2      .9    0         .2     -.1     0     
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............|  34.8    33.4    33.4   -17.5    0       -1.7    -1.5     0     
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 157.0   157.9   158.1      .8     .1      0       0        .1   
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 170.3   170.3   170.3      .5    0        -.2      .1      .1   
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 142.1   143.2   142.6    -1.0    -.4      -.7     -.3     -.4   
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 131.6   132.3   132.3      .7    0         .7     0       0     
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 106.1   105.5   104.9    -2.3    -.6       .4     -.9     -.6   
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 100.9   100.5   100.3     -.7    -.2      -.8     -.3     -.2   
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 139.6   140.2   140.1     3.0    -.1       .3      .2      .1   
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 154.7   154.7   154.8     1.8     .1      0       0        .1   
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.1   114.2   114.1     1.7    -.1      1.8      .1     -.1   
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 162.4   162.6   162.7      .7     .1      -.1      .1      .1   
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 147.1   145.6   144.0     -.1   -1.1       .5      .8      .1   
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 154.0   154.3   154.3      .7    0         .1     -.1     0     
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 139.5   139.5   139.5      .9    0        -.1      .1     0     
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 176.9   183.8   184.2     6.8     .2      1.3     1.3      .2   
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 158.2   158.2   159.3     5.7     .7      0       0        .7   
14-4       |   Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 136.3   136.5   136.9     1.7     .3      1.0     -.9      .3   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 132.5   134.0   134.1     3.7     .1       .2      .5     -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 122.8   125.1   128.0     8.5    2.3      -.4      .2     2.3   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 125.5   124.6   122.9     -.7   -1.4     -1.1     1.1    -1.4   
02-53      |   Refined sugar and byproducts 2/.....................| 122.3   123.2   120.6     1.4   -2.1      -.2      .2    -2.1   
02-54      |   Confectionery materials 2/..........................| 125.3   124.1   125.1     1.5     .8       .2     -.4      .8   
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 113.4   142.7   138.8    37.0   -2.7     -1.2     3.6    -2.7   
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 111.1   108.8   113.6     2.6    4.4       .5    -2.3     4.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 133.1   134.6   134.5     3.5    -.1       .1      .6     -.3   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 106.9   106.9   106.4     -.2    -.5      -.2      .2     -.5   
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 103.8   103.7   103.5     1.1    -.2      -.2      .4     -.2   
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 112.2   110.6   110.1    -2.1    -.5      -.4     -.5     -.5   
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 120.3   121.2   121.1      .2    -.1      -.5      .7     -.2   
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 130.8   130.7   130.9     -.1     .2      -.2     -.3      .2   
04-2       |   Leather 2/..........................................| 211.1   211.8   213.4     2.7     .8      1.1     0        .8   
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 135.2   142.8   138.1    14.2   -3.3     -4.7     -.1    -3.3   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
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 |                                                       |                       |Sept.2003 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       | May   |Aug.   |Sept.  | Sept. | Aug.  |June to|July to|Aug. to  
           |                                                       |2003 1/|2003 1/|2003 1/| 2002  | 2003  |  July |  Aug. |  Sept.  
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |                                                                 
           |   -Continued..........................................|                                                                 
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 137.9   146.0   149.0     3.5    2.1      0       1.0     2.2   
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 145.1   152.0   152.2     4.4     .1       .8      .6      .3   
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 170.9   171.7   172.7    31.3     .6       .8     0        .3   
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 178.0   177.4   177.6    33.8     .1      -.7     2.2     -.8   
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...| 146.4   143.6   140.9    41.2   -1.9     -4.3     7.8     -.5   
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  75.5    80.8    74.6    -8.7   -7.7     -1.0      .2   -17.4   
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  87.9    96.6    91.1    -1.3   -5.7      2.8     2.7   -17.0   
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  84.1   121.5   103.3    20.3  -15.0     44.6     5.3   -15.0   
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 140.6   141.2   139.5     7.1   -1.2     -1.1     1.3    -1.2   
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 170.6   171.6   171.4     2.3    -.1       .6      .1     -.2   
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 173.2   173.4   172.9      .8    -.3      -.2     -.2     -.3   
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 135.4   135.2   135.1     1.2    -.1      -.4      .2     -.1   
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible.............................| 112.7   110.9   112.6    12.8    1.5     -2.8    -3.6    -4.2   
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 120.0   119.7   120.1     5.1     .3      0        .3      .5   
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 153.2   145.3   147.5    40.6    1.5      -.5     3.8     2.2   
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 113.7   110.6   110.3     9.1    -.3      -.8     2.5     -.3   
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 148.3   148.5   148.2     -.3    -.2      0       0       -.2   
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials........................| 152.4   145.3   144.8     5.9    -.3     -2.7    -1.2      .6   
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 128.0   127.6   127.9     5.4     .2      -.3     -.5      .2   
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 140.2   137.2   137.8    -1.9     .4     -1.5     -.2      .7   
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 146.1   145.3   143.8     4.8   -1.0      0        .4    -1.0   
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 116.1   116.2   116.2     0      0        -.2     0       0     
08-11      |   Softwood lumber.....................................| 163.1   171.7   184.5     8.8    7.5      4.6      .4    10.2   
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 188.6   192.1   193.1     8.0     .5       .7      .3      .5   
08-2       |   Millwork............................................| 180.9   182.3   183.6     1.8     .7       .4      .1      .8   
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 145.4   165.1   193.4    29.2   17.1      8.8     1.9    17.1   
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 123.3   123.5   121.0     1.6   -2.0     -1.0    -1.0    -2.0   
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 146.5   146.4   146.2     1.2    -.1      0       -.3     -.1   
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 163.6   162.4   160.1    -4.0   -1.4      -.4     0      -1.4   
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 173.2   172.6   172.7     -.3     .1      -.1     -.1      .1   
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 141.5   169.2   187.5    44.0   10.8     12.5     3.0    10.8   
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 158.5   158.6   158.5      .8    -.1      -.3      .4     -.1   
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 137.1   137.5   137.6      .5     .1       .3     0       0     
10-17      |   Steel mill products.................................| 109.0   108.6   108.9     -.7     .3     -1.3      .6      .1   
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 102.2   105.1   105.7     8.5     .6       .1     1.9      .6   
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 143.5   143.5   142.4     -.1    -.8     -1.2     -.1     -.8   
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 147.7   153.5   154.7     5.9     .8      1.1      .9      .8   
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 134.0   135.2   135.4     1.6     .1      -.7      .2      .1   
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 109.0   109.1   109.2     1.4     .1      0       0        .1   
10-4       |   Hardware 2/.........................................| 156.0   156.1   156.1      .1    0         .1     -.1     0     
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 183.6   184.1   184.0      .7    -.1      -.1      .3      .2   
10-6       |   Heating equipment 2/................................| 163.3   163.4   163.7     3.3     .2      0        .1      .2   
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products 2/.............| 145.5   145.5   145.6     -.2     .1      -.1      .1      .1   
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 130.4   132.5   132.5     2.0    0         .4     1.2     0     
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 127.4   127.6   127.6      .6    0         .1      .2     0     
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 171.3   170.6   170.6      .7    0        -.5      .1      .2   
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment 2/.....| 137.4   136.9   136.7     -.4    -.1      -.2     -.1     -.1   
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100)........| 169.3   169.7   169.7     1.4    0         .4     -.1      .1   
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 171.5   171.3   171.2      .5    -.1      -.2     -.2     0     
11-71      |   Wiring devices 2/...................................| 152.5   153.5   152.7    -1.7    -.5       .1      .1     -.5   
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 147.5   147.2   147.5      .5     .2      -.1     0        .4   
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment 2/.........| 159.2   159.3   159.1     1.1    -.1      -.1      .1     -.1   
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  91.4    90.8    91.0    -1.4     .2       .2     -.7      .2   
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 144.0   145.8   145.8      .8    0         .2     1.2     -.1   
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 140.6   140.6   140.6      .5    0         .1     0       0     
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 111.3   111.2   110.6     -.5    -.5       .1     0       -.5   
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 152.6   152.2   151.8    -1.5    -.3      0       -.3      .1   
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 153.5   153.5   153.4      .3    -.1       .2      .2     -.4   
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings..........................| 120.3   117.8   116.9     4.4    -.8     -1.1     -.3     -.7   
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 171.3   170.8   178.1     4.2    4.3      5.3    -2.7     4.3   
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 139.6   140.7   140.8     3.4     .1      -.1      .6      .1   
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 112.0   111.6   111.7     -.4     .1      0       -.1      .1   
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 153.6   154.1   153.7     5.7    -.3      1.0      .2     -.2   
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100).....| 150.6   149.5   149.5    -1.0    0         .2      .2     -.2   
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 118.6   118.6   118.6     -.4    0        0       0       0     
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices 2/............| 154.2   154.5   154.6     2.2     .1       .1     0        .1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 130.9   131.4   135.6    22.3    3.2     -2.9    -1.4     3.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 111.0   111.5   118.7    17.9    6.5     -3.0     3.7     7.0   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................| 100.2    98.3    95.7   -24.2   -2.6    -10.3    11.6    -2.6   
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................| 101.5    88.8    96.6   -13.7    8.8    -13.4    -1.7    12.8   
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................| 117.0   117.6   130.5    35.2   11.0     -3.0     6.1    11.0   
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  75.9    73.0    69.1    55.3   -5.3     -5.7     3.8     2.8   
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 138.0   153.8   156.1    21.1    1.5      5.0     2.4    -3.2   
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 100.1    91.6   103.1    -4.7   12.6     -6.5    -7.3     9.6   
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................|  83.0    97.4   104.9    21.0    7.7      4.1     6.9     4.9   
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................| 109.6    96.6   104.8     5.3    8.5     -5.6    -5.3     8.5   
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 116.8   114.2   112.4    -2.3   -1.6      -.9     -.4    -1.6   
                                                                                                                                     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 142.4   142.9   144.5    25.2    1.1     -2.9    -4.2     1.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton 2/.......................................|  82.5    85.0    89.8    41.0    5.6     10.2    -7.7     5.6   
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................|   (3)   105.2   109.9     3.0    4.5      (3)     (3)     4.5   
04-19      |   Hides and skins (June 2001=100) 2/..................|  83.3    85.9    86.5    -1.5     .7      0       6.0      .7   
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................| 101.3    98.9   100.3     2.8    1.4     -3.0     1.3     1.4   
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................| 211.2   196.2   206.7    71.0    5.4     -6.2   -13.1     5.4   
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  74.0    83.5    76.5    -1.3   -8.4      -.7     1.5    -8.4   
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 180.4   180.1   183.0     1.6    1.6       .3     1.6     1.5   
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 201.6   196.4   198.4     2.9    1.0     -3.5      .4     1.0   
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  95.3    96.5    96.5     1.6    0         .9      .4     0     
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap................................| 168.7   185.6   193.9    26.2    4.5      3.1     8.8     4.8   
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  74.0    77.2    80.5    16.2    4.3     -1.2     3.1     4.3   
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 121.0   127.0   128.5    17.0    1.2      -.7     3.2     1.2   
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 166.9   167.1   167.3     7.0     .1      1.1     2.0     -.3   
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 177.0   177.4   178.0     2.5     .3      -.1      .2      .6   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                                                     
1/  The indexes for May 2003 have been recalculated to incorporate                   2/  Not seasonally adjusted.                    
    late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes are subject            3/  Not available.                              
    to revision 4 months after original publication.                                                                                 

Table 3.  Producer price indexes for selected commodity groupings                              
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)                                                          
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
         |                                                |                                   |
         |                                                |         Unadjusted index 1/       |
Commodity|                                                |___________________________________|
  code   |                    Grouping                    |  May 2003 | Aug. 2003 |Sept. 2003 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   398.6   |   402.8   |   403.9   |
         | All commodities................................|   136.7   |   138.0   |   138.5   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   130.7   |   132.6   |   136.1   |
01       |   Farm products................................|   109.2   |   109.0   |   116.1   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   141.4   |   143.5   |   145.0   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   137.8   |   139.1   |   139.2   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   119.9   |   119.6   |   119.5   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   161.0   |   162.2   |   162.8   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power.........|   108.5   |   113.2   |   113.1   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   162.1   |   161.7   |   161.2   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   131.0   |   130.7   |   130.5   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   173.1   |   177.6   |   184.4   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   189.9   |   190.5   |   190.7   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   128.3   |   129.2   |   129.6   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   122.1   |   122.1   |   122.0   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   133.9   |   133.8   |   133.7   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   148.4   |   148.3   |   148.4   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   144.8   |   144.4   |   144.0   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   179.1   |   179.6   |   179.7   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   144.9   |   145.0   |   145.1   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   120.4   |   108.7   |   118.7   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|   101.5   |    92.2   |    97.2   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|   106.8   |   106.2   |   114.5   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   128.6   |   139.4   |   143.4   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|    83.5   |    86.1   |    90.9   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|    99.9   |   146.7   |   145.4   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   133.9   |   119.2   |   125.8   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   119.9   |   106.7   |   114.6   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|    (3)    |   156.9   |   163.9   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   170.8   |   171.2   |   171.4   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   127.7   |   131.1   |   133.6   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   114.4   |   118.0   |   119.9   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   148.7   |   149.0   |   148.5   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   150.0   |   149.7   |   149.7   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   129.2   |   129.2   |   129.1   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   148.6   |   154.6   |   153.1   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.6   |   124.9   |   124.8   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   148.2   |   148.7   |   148.7   |
05-3     | Gas fuels......................................|   190.3   |   180.7   |   187.5   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   139.0   |   146.7   |   147.9   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    88.1   |    99.9   |    97.8   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   274.0   |   275.7   |   276.4   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   137.5   |   135.2   |   135.4   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   140.7   |   141.3   |   141.5   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   119.5   |   119.8   |   119.9   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   127.3   |   127.0   |   127.2   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   141.1   |   141.4   |   141.3   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   139.6   |   139.0   |   138.8   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   169.4   |   176.1   |   184.5   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   157.8   |   157.3   |   156.8   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   165.6   |   165.3   |   165.3   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   119.8   |   121.2   |   122.2   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   122.3   |   123.8   |   124.5   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   136.8   |   137.7   |   137.3   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   150.0   |   150.3   |   150.3   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   155.6   |   155.7   |   155.6   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   165.6   |   169.4   |   169.2   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   115.2   |   114.7   |   114.6   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   137.1   |   137.8   |   137.9   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   158.7   |   158.2   |   158.3   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   165.0   |   165.1   |   165.3   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   128.8   |   127.5   |   126.8   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   133.3   |   132.6   |   132.2   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   105.2   |   105.3   |   104.9   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   140.8   |   140.8   |   141.1   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
                                                                                               
1/  Data for May 2003 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and        
    corrections by respondents.  All data are subject to revision 4 months after original      
    publication.                                                                               
2/  Prices of some items in this grouping are lagged 1 month.                                  
3/  Not available.
Table 4.  Producer price indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted             
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change  
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Sep._2003_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |         
                  |                                              |     |May    |Aug.   |Sep.   |  Sep.  |  Aug.   
                  |                                              |     |2003 2/|2003 2/|2003 2/|  2002  |  2003   
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84| 126.3   125.2   126.2     26.1      0.8  
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  77.8    80.6    83.1     12.9      3.1  
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  94.6    94.0    94.3      1.6       .3  
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 152.7   150.7   152.0     34.8       .9  
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |                                          
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 146.4   146.7   146.9      2.4       .1  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 135.8   137.0   137.1      1.6       .1  
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 135.7   137.7   138.8      2.0       .8  
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 376.4   376.3   376.8     -7.8       .1  
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 115.3   115.7   115.5      -.1      -.2  
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |                                          
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 124.9   124.9   124.9      -.2    0      
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 156.4   160.9   166.8      7.4      3.7  
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 147.4   147.5   147.6       .4       .1  
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 145.3   144.7   144.6       .3      -.1  
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 197.3   197.8   197.9      2.3       .1  
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 165.8   164.5   164.5      3.7    0      
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84| 111.0   124.0   122.1     11.4     -1.5  
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 129.2   128.8   128.6      1.8      -.2  
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 142.2   142.5   142.6       .5       .1  
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 138.0   138.0   138.1       .4       .1  
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 117.8   118.1   118.3       .3       .2  
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |                                          
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 132.7   132.9   133.1       .8       .2  
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 116.0   116.0   115.9      -.8      -.1  
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |                                          
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 104.0   102.5   102.3     -2.9      -.2  
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 137.5   137.0   136.5      1.0      -.4  
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |                                          
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |                                          
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 129.8   130.0   129.9       .9      -.1  
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 133.9   134.3   134.2       .5      -.1  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Services industries                           |     |                                          
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 108.7   108.3   108.8      2.0      0.5  
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 127.4   128.3   128.7      2.9       .3  
       43         | United States Postal Service................ |06/89| 155.0   155.0   155.0    0        0      
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 147.6   151.1   151.7      9.1       .4  
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 162.0   162.9   162.9      2.7    0      
       46         | Pipelines, except natural gas............... |12/86| 111.8   111.9   112.2      -.3       .3  
       48         | Communications.............................. |06/01|  97.8    97.4    97.2      -.7      -.2  
       54         | Food stores................................. |12/99| 120.1   117.6   118.9      3.5      1.1  
       55         | Automotive dealers and gasoline service      |     |                                          
                  |  stations................................... |12/01|  91.5    89.4    94.8     12.5      6.0  
       59         | Miscellaneous retail........................ |06/00| 106.3   105.8   104.3      1.6     -1.4  
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 123.9   124.5   124.7      3.9       .2  
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 125.2   125.4   126.5      3.3       .9  
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 movements of similarly titled indexes   
   derived from traditional commodity groupings.                                                                  
2/ The indexes for May 2003 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.    
   All indexes are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.                                       
3/ Not available.                                                                                                 

Note: NAICS 2002 replaces the SIC classification system beginning with the release of PPI data for January 2004.  
See http://www.bls.gov/ppi/ppinaics.htm for details.
Table 5.  Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |                                                     
                                                       |                      Index 1/                       
                                                       |_____________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |        |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |  Apr.  |  May   |  June  |  July  |  Aug.  |  Sep.  
                                                       |  2003  |  2003  |  2003  |  2003  |  2003  |  2003  
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods...................................|  142.4    141.8    142.6    142.8    143.4    143.8 
        Finished consumer goods........................|  144.2    143.4    144.4    144.5    145.3    145.8 
          Finished consumer foods......................|  144.4    144.5    145.0    144.7    145.7    147.4 
            Crude......................................|  135.4    133.5    122.1    123.3    130.2    137.3 
            Processed..................................|  145.1    145.3    146.9    146.5    147.0    148.2 
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  143.8    142.7    143.9    144.1    144.8    144.9 
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  147.4    145.6    147.6    147.9    148.7    148.8 
            Durable goods..............................|  132.3    132.6    132.2    132.5    132.7    132.6 
        Capital equipment..............................|  139.0    139.1    139.2    139.7    139.8    139.7 
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  139.6    139.5    139.8    140.4    140.6    140.6 
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  138.7    138.9    138.9    139.3    139.5    139.3 
                                                       |                                                     
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  133.4    132.5    133.1    133.3    134.0    133.8 
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  129.3    129.2    129.5    129.3    130.0    129.8 
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  129.9    130.6    134.1    133.1    134.8    136.4 
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  137.4    136.8    136.9    136.5    138.0    136.4 
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  126.7    126.7    127.2    127.0    127.7    128.8 
          Components for manufacturing.................|  126.0    126.1    125.9    126.0    125.9    125.9 
        Materials and components for construction......|  152.8    152.6    152.8    153.3    153.5    154.9 
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|  112.9    108.2    110.6    111.6    113.8    112.0 
          Manufacturing industries ....................|  117.6    113.2    115.7    117.4    119.5    117.9 
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  109.9    105.2    107.5    108.0    110.2    108.3 
        Containers.....................................|  154.0    153.9    153.9    153.7    153.6    153.6 
        Supplies.......................................|  141.3    141.5    141.4    141.6    141.4    141.7 
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  146.8    146.9    146.8    146.9    146.9    146.6 
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  138.7    139.0    138.9    139.1    138.8    139.2 
            Feeds......................................|  102.2    104.6    104.3    104.7    101.8    107.4 
            Other supplies.............................|  143.2    143.3    143.2    143.4    143.3    143.3 
                                                       |                                                     
      Crude materials for further processing...........|  128.3    130.1    136.1    132.1    130.3    134.7 
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|  107.6    109.7    108.9    105.6    109.5    117.2 
        Nonfood materials..............................|  140.5    142.0    153.4    148.9    142.6    144.2 
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|  110.4    108.7    113.4    113.5    116.6    114.2 
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|  101.4     99.8    104.2    104.3    107.2    105.0 
            Construction...............................|  179.6    179.4    178.4    177.9    179.7    181.4 
          Crude fuel 3/................................|  176.9    183.7    205.4    193.4    171.8    180.1 
            Manufacturing industries...................|  168.4    174.7    194.6    183.4    163.6    171.3 
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|  180.9    187.9    210.1    197.8    175.7    184.1 
                                                       |                                                     
                     Special groupings                 |                                                     
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  141.6    140.9    141.7    142.1    142.6    142.6 
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  134.1    133.0    133.6    133.8    134.6    134.2 
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  121.4    122.7    124.9    124.4    124.6    127.5 
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|  142.9    144.6    156.5    151.6    144.7    146.2 
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished energy goods............................|  100.9     98.0    101.2    101.5    102.7    102.8 
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  148.2    148.4    148.4    148.6    149.0    149.4 
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  152.2    152.3    152.4    152.4    152.9    153.6 
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  149.9    150.1    150.0    150.3    150.5    150.5 
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  157.2    157.5    157.2    157.4    157.6    157.7 
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  177.4    177.6    177.4    177.5    177.7    177.9 
                                                       |                                                     
      Intermediate energy goods........................|  112.2    107.3    109.6    111.0    113.7    111.1 
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  137.3    137.4    137.5    137.4    137.6    138.0 
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  138.4    138.4    138.4    138.3    138.5    138.7 
                                                       |                                                     
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|  138.8    141.4    157.9    151.0    139.9    140.7 
      Crude materials less energy......................|  117.4    118.7    117.8    115.7    120.0    126.6 
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  146.4    145.4    144.5    145.6    151.0    154.5 
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                             
  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 May 2003 have been recalculated   
      to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.                                            
  2/  Includes crude petroleum.                                                                              
  3/  Excludes crude petroleum.                                                                              
Technical Note


                Brief Explanation of Producer Price Indexes

     The term Producer Price Index (PPI) refers to a family of indexes that
measure the average change over time in the selling prices received by
domestic producers of goods and services.  PPIs measure price change from
the perspective of the seller.  This contrasts with other measures, such as
the Consumer Price Index (CPI); CPIs measure price change from the
purchaser's perspective.  Sellers' and purchasers' prices may differ due to
government subsidies, sales and excise taxes, and distribution costs.

     More than 10,000 PPIs for individual products and groups of products
are released each month.  PPIs are available for the products of virtually
every industry in the mining and manufacturing sectors of the U.S. economy.
New PPIs are gradually being introduced for the products of industries in
the transportation, utilities, trade, finance, and services sectors of the
economy.

     More than 100,000 price quotations per month are organized into three
sets of producer price indexes: (1) stage-of-processing indexes; (2)
commodity indexes; and (3) indexes for the net output of industries and
their products.  The stage-of-processing structure (tables 1, 2, and 5)
organizes products by class of buyer and degree of fabrication.  The
commodity structure (tables 2 and 3) organizes products by similarity of
end-use or material composition.  The entire output of various industries
is sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of industries and
their products (table 4).

     Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods are commodities
that will not undergo further processing and are ready for sale to the
final demand user, either an individual consumer or business firm.
Consumer foods include unprocessed foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables,
as well as processed foods such as bakery products and meats.  Other
finished consumer goods include durable goods such as automobiles,
household furniture, and appliances; and nondurable goods such as apparel
and home heating oil.  Capital equipment includes producer durable goods
such as heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine tools.

     The stage-of-processing category for intermediate materials, supplies,
and components consists partly of commodities that have been processed but
require further processing.  Examples of such semifinished goods include
flour, cotton yarn, steel mill products, and lumber.  The intermediate
goods category also encompasses nondurable physically complete items
purchased by business firms as inputs for their operations.  Examples
include diesel fuel, belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers.

     Crude materials for further processing are products entering the
market for the first time that have not been manufactured or fabricated and
that are not sold directly to consumers.  Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs
include items such as grains and livestock.  Examples of crude nonfood
materials include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides and skins, and
iron and steel scrap.

     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries and their
products are grouped according to the Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC).  Industry price indexes are compatible with other economic time
series organized by SIC codes, such as data on employment, wages, and
productivity.  Table 4 lists indexes for the net output of major mining and
manufacturing industry groups at the 2-digit level.

     Producer price indexes are based on selling prices reported by
establishments of all sizes selected by probability sampling, with the
probability of selection proportionate to size.  Individual items and
transaction terms from these firms are also chosen by probability
proportionate to size.  BLS strongly encourages cooperating companies to
supply actual transaction prices at the time of shipment to minimize the
use of list prices.  Prices are normally reported by mail questionnaire for
the Tuesday of the week containing the 13th.

    Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential basis; no one
but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to individual company price
reports.  The Bureau publishes price indexes instead of unit dollar prices.
All producer price indexes are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months
after original publication, to reflect the availability of late reports and
corrections by respondents.

    The BLS periodically updates the PPI sample of survey respondents to
better reflect current conditions when the structure, membership,
technology, or product mix of an industry shifts significantly and to
spread reporting burden among smaller firms.  Results of these resampling
efforts are incorporated into the PPI every January and July.

    As part of an ongoing effort to expand coverage to sectors of the
economy other than mining and manufacturing, an increasing number of
service sector industries have been introduced into the PPI.  The following
list of recently introduced service industries includes the month in which
an article describing the industry's content appeared in the PPI Detailed
Report:

                                           PPI
                                        Detailed
             Industry                                    SIC   Report
                                                               Issue
                                                 
Wireless Telecommunications............................. 4812  July 1999
Telephone Communications, Except Radio Telephone........ 4813  July 1995
Television Broadcasting................................. 4833  July 2002
Grocery Stores.......................................... 5411  July 2000
Meat and Fish (Seafood) Markets......................... 5421  July 2000
Fruit and Vegetable Markets............................. 5431  July 2000
Candy, Nut, and Confectionery Stores.................... 5441  July 2000
Retail Bakeries......................................... 5461  July 2000
Miscellaneous Food Stores............................... 5499  July 2000
New Car Dealers......................................... 5511  July 2000
Gasoline Service Stations............................... 5541  January 2002
Boat Dealers............................................ 5551  January 2002
Recreational Vehicle Dealers............................ 5561  January 2002
Miscellaneous Retail.................................... 59    January 2001
Security Brokers, Dealers, and Investment Bankers....... 6211  January 2001
Investment Advice....................................... 6282  January 2003
Life Insurance Carriers................................. 6311  January 1999
Property and Casualty Insurance......................... 6331  July 1998
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages....................... 6412  January 2003
Operators and Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings....... 6512  January 1996
Real Estate Agents and Managers......................... 6531  January 1996
Prepackaged Software.................................... 7372  January 1998
Data Processing Services................................ 7374  January 2002
Home Health Care Services............................... 8082  January 1997
Legal Services.......................................... 8111  January 1997
Engineering Design, Analysis, and Consulting Services... 8711  January 1997
Architectural Design, Analysis, and Consulting Services. 8712  January 1997
Premiums for Property and Casualty Insurance............ 9331  July 1998

     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the PPI, as well
as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing indexes) calculated from
traditional commodity groupings, currently reflect 1992 values of shipments
as reported in the Census of Manufactures and other sources.  From January
1992 through December 1995, PPI weights were derived from 1987 shipment
values.  Industry indexes shown in table 4 are also now calculated with
1992 net output weights.  This periodic update of the value weights used to
calculate the PPI is done to more accurately reflect changes in production
and marketing patterns in the economy.

     Net output values of shipments are used as weights for industry
indexes. Net output values refer to the value of shipments from
establishments in one industry to establishments classified in another
industry.  However, weights for commodity price indexes are based on gross
shipment values, including shipment values between establishments within
the same industry. As a result, broad commodity grouping indexes such as
the all commodities index are affected by the multiple counting of price
change at successive stages of processing, which can lead to exaggerated or
misleading signals about inflation.  Stage-of-processing indexes partially
correct this defect, but industry indexes consistently correct for this at
all levels of aggregation.  Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing
indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings for economic
analysis of general price trends.

     Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many important PPI
series (including stage-of-processing groupings and most commodity groups
and individual items) were placed on a new reference base, 1982=100.  From
1971 through 1987, the standard reference base for most PPI series was
1967=100. Except for rounding differences, the shift to the new reference
base did not alter any changes to previously published percent changes for
affected PPI series. (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.) The new
reference base is not used for indexes with a base later than December
1981, nor for indexes for the net output of industries and their products.

     For further information on the underlying concepts and methodology of
the Producer Price Index, see chapter 14, "Producer Prices," in BLS
Handbook of Methods (April 1997), Bulletin 2490. Reprints are available
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on request.

                         Calculating Index Changes

     Each index measures price changes from a reference period which equals
100.0 (1982 or some later month). An increase of 5.5 percent from the
reference period in the Finished Goods Price Index, for example, is shown
as 105.5.  This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:
"Prices received by domestic producers of a systematic sample of finished
goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to $105.50 today." Likewise, a current
index of 90.0 would indicate that prices received by producers of finished
goods today are 10 percent lower than they were in 1982.

    Movements of price indexes from one month to another are usually
expressed as percent changes rather than as changes in index points because
index point changes are affected by the level of the index in relation to
its base period, whereas percent changes are not.  The example below shows
the computation of index point and percent changes.

     Index point change

     Finished Goods Price Index              107.5
     Less previous index                     104.0
     Equals index point change                 3.5

     Index percent change

     Index point change                        3.5
     Divided by the previous index           104.0
     Equals                                  0.034
     Result multiplied by 100          0.034 x 100
     Equals percent change                     3.4



                  Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

     Because price data are used for different purposes by different
groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted and
unadjusted changes each month.  Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for
analyzing general price trends in the economy because they eliminate the
effect of changes that normally occur at about the same time and in about
the same magnitude every year--such as price movements resulting from
normal weather patterns, regular production and marketing cycles, model
changeovers, seasonal discounts, and holidays.  For these reasons,
seasonally adjusted data more clearly reveal underlying cyclical trends.

     Unadjusted data are of primary interest to users who need information
that can be related to actual dollar values of transactions.  Individuals
requiring this information include marketing specialists, purchasing
agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and commodity
traders.  It is the unadjusted data that are generally cited in escalating
long-term contracts such as purchasing agreements or real estate leases.
(See Escalation and Producer Price Indexes:  A Guide for Contracting
Parties, BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from BLS.)

     For more information, see (1) "Appendix A: Seasonal Adjustment
Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of Methods (April 1997), Bulletin
2490 and (2) "Summary of  Changes to the PPI's  Seasonal Adjustment
Methodology" in the January 1995 issue of Producer Price Indexes.