FOR DATA ONLY:  (202) 606-7828     USDL 96-507
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:         TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
(202) 606-7705                     THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
MEDIA CONTACT:  (202) 606-5902     UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (E.S.T),
                                   WEDNESDAY,
http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   DECEMBER 11, 1996

                   Producer Price Indexes -- November 1996

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods advanced 0.4 percent in
November, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of U. S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This followed a 0.4-percent increase in
October and a 0.2-percent rise in September.  Prices received by domestic
producers of intermediate goods rose 0.2 percent in November after
registering no change in the prior month.  The Crude Goods Price Index
advanced 1.8 percent, which followed a 0.6-percent decline in October.  (See
table A.)

     Among finished goods in November, increases in the indexes for finished
energy goods and for finished goods less foods and energy offset a decline
in the index for finished consumer foods.  Prices for finished goods less
foods and energy turned up 0.1 percent after falling 0.3 percent in the
prior month.

Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-processing
price indexes,
seasonally adjusted
                     Finish                                  
                         ed
                      goods
                                                             
                                     Change in            
                            Except   finished   Inter-    
                                       goods
                             foods    from 12   mediateCrude
                              and     months
Month  Total  Foods  Energy energy      ago      goods goods
                                     (unadj.)
 1995                                                     
 Nov.     0.3    1.1   -1.0     0.4         2.1   -0.1    1.6
 Dec.     0.6    0.1    3.8     0.1         2.3    0.2    1.6
                                                             
 1996                                                        
 Jan.     0.2   -0.4    2.4    -0.1         2.2    0.2    2.3
 Feb.    -0.1   -0.2   -0.9     0.1         2.0   -0.5    1.6
 Mar.     0.5    0.8    2.6    -0.1         2.4    0.1   -1.4
 Apr.     0.2   -0.5    2.7       0         2.4    0.4    4.5
 May      0.2    0.2   -0.4     0.3         2.3    0.5    1.1
 June     0.2    1.8   -2.4     0.1         2.7   -0.5   -2.1
 July    -0.1   r0.1  r-0.6       0         2.6   -0.3   r2.7
 Aug.     0.3   r0.9   r0.6       0         3.0    0.2  r-0.5
Sept.     0.2    0.2    0.2     0.3         2.9    0.3   -1.5
 Oct.     0.4    0.8    1.9    -0.3         3.0      0   -0.6
 Nov.     0.4   -0.1    2.3     0.1         3.0    0.2    1.8
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously
reported because data for July 1996 have been revised to reflect the
availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents.
                                     -2-
     Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods
registered no change in November at 132.5 (1982=100).  From November 1995 to
November 1996, the Finished Goods Price Index rose 3.0 percent.  Over the
same period, the index for finished energy goods rose 12.9 percent, prices
for finished consumer foods increased 3.7 percent, and the index for
finished goods other than foods and energy advanced 0.6 percent.  Prices
received by domestic producers of intermediate goods rose 0.6 percent for
the 12 months ended in November, and the index for crude materials moved up
9.4 percent over the same period.

Finished Goods

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Energy Goods rose 2.3 percent in
November after increasing 1.9 percent a month earlier.  Prices for
residential gas advanced 3.8 percent, after registering no change in
October.  The index for finished lubricants turned up in November after
falling a month earlier.  By contrast, the index for gasoline rose 2.8
percent after increasing 5.5 percent in October.  The index for home heating
oil declined after advancing in the previous month.

Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for
intermediate goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted
              Interm                           Crude           
              ediate                           goods
              goods
                                                             Change in
                            Change in                          crude
                            intermedi                Excludi   goods
                               ate                     ng
                     Exclud   goods           Energy  foods   from 12
                      ing      from                    and   months ago
                     foods  12 months
                      and      ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy  (unadj.)   Foods (unadj energy   (unadj.)
                                                .)
 1995                                                             
 Nov.     2.1    0.2   -0.3        3.5    2.8    2.1   -1.7     4.7
 Dec.     1.5    2.8   -0.2        3.3   -0.4    6.1   -0.9     5.5
                                                                  
 1996                                                             
 Jan.    -0.1    2.8   -0.3        2.2   -0.4    7.7   -0.2     7.2
 Feb.    -0.2   -1.3   -0.4        1.1   -0.7    5.9   -0.2     8.3
 Mar.       0    2.1   -0.2        0.7    0.1   -2.5   -2.3     7.5
 Apr.     1.9    3.4   -0.1        0.6    4.3    8.3   -1.1     10.4
 May      4.0    1.0    0.1        0.7    6.3   -4.6    0.6     12.7
 June     0.8   -3.6      0        0.3    1.4   -6.8   -1.7     9.6
 July    r0.4  r-0.6   -0.3      r-0.1   r2.7   r5.4  r-1.7    r13.2
 Aug.     0.2   r0.5    0.1          0  r-0.7  r-1.0   r0.5     13.9
Sept.     1.1    0.8    0.1        0.5   -3.8    0.6    0.6     10.2
 Oct.    -2.0    1.7   -0.1        0.5   -2.7    1.5    0.3     9.4
 Nov.    -2.2    1.2    0.1        0.6   -1.9    7.7   -0.3     9.4
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because data for July 1996 have
been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by
respondents.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                                     -3-
     The capital equipment index rose 0.3 percent in November after dropping
0.4 percent in the prior month.  Prices for heavy motor trucks advanced 1.9
percent, following a decline of 4.4 percent in October.  The index for light
motor trucks also rose in November after falling a month ago. Prices for x-
ray equipment registered no change after declining in October.  The index
for civilian aircraft rose more in November than it did in the prior month.
Prices for industrial material handling equipment, truck trailers, paper
industries machinery, and for pumps and compressors advanced in November
after remaining unchanged in the previous month.  By contrast, the index for
ships fell 3.9 percent following a rise of 4.0 percent in October.  Prices
also declined for transformers, railroad equipment, textile machinery, and
for office and store machines and equipment after increasing a month ago.
The index for communications and related equipment dropped after registering
no change in October, and prices for commercial furniture rose less than a
month ago.

     The index for finished consumer goods excluding food and energy
remained unchanged in November following a 0.1 percent decline in October.
Price increases for passenger cars, cosmetics, light trucks, household
furniture, over-the-counter drugs, and prescription drugs offset price
declines for women's apparel, sanitary paper products, newspapers, household
appliances, floor coverings, and periodicals.

     The index for finished consumer foods fell 0.1 percent in November
following an increase of 0.8 percent a month earlier.  Prices for dairy
products declined 4.5 percent after rising 0.2 percent in October.  The
index for fresh fruits and melons also fell in November following an advance
in the previous month.  Price increases slowed in November for finfish and
shellfish, pork, and bakery products.  By contrast, prices for fresh and dry
vegetables advanced 16.6 percent in November after rising 7.0 percent a
month ago.  The index for young chickens also rose more than in October.
Prices for eggs for fresh use, turkeys, and confectionery end products
turned up after declining in the prior month.

Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components advanced 0.2 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, after
remaining unchanged a month earlier.  The indexes for durable manufacturing
materials, construction materials, and nondurable manufacturing materials
turned up after falling in October.  By contrast, prices for energy goods
rose less than in the previous month, and the index for foods and feeds fell
more than a month earlier.  Excluding food and energy prices, the
intermediate materials index turned up 0.1 percent after falling the same
amount a month ago.  (See table B.)

     Prices for durable manufacturing materials advanced 0.4 percent after
decreasing the same amount in October.  The rise in the index for copper
accelerated to 7.1 percent from 0.7 percent in the previous month.  Prices
for copper and brass mill shapes also increased more than a month earlier.
The indexes for hot rolled steel sheet and strip, aluminum, and cold rolled
steel sheets and strip turned up after falling in October.  Prices for
plywood and aluminum mill shapes fell less than in the prior month.  On the
other hand, the index for flat glass turned down 0.1 percent after rising
0.4 percent in the previous month.  Prices for hot rolled steel bars,
plates, and structural shapes fell more than in October.






                                     -4-
     The index for construction materials rose 0.4 percent after falling 0.3
percent a month earlier.  Prices for softwood lumber turned up 5.4 percent
after falling 5.1 percent in the previous month.  The indexes for plastic
construction products, asphalt felts and coatings, and fabricated ferrous
wire products also increased after falling a month earlier.  Prices for
millwork rose after remaining unchanged in the previous month.  By contrast,
the index for fabricated structural metal products remained unchanged after
increasing 0.4 percent a month ago.  Prices for nonferrous wire and cable
decreased after rising in the previous month.

     Prices for nondurable manufacturing materials turned up 0.1 percent
after falling 0.2 percent in October.  The index for paperboard rose 1.0
percent after declining the same amount a month earlier.  Prices for leather
and intermediate basic organic chemicals also turned up after falling in the
previous month.  The index for primary basic organic chemicals rose more
than in the prior month.  Conversely, the index for miscellaneous inorganic
acids turned down 3.2 percent after increasing 2.4 percent a month ago.
Prices for plastic resins and materials, nitrogenates, and for processed
yarns and threads also fell after rising in the previous month.

     The rise in the index for intermediate energy goods slowed to 1.2
percent from 1.7 percent in October.  Prices for jet fuels turned down 7.0
percent following a 1.6-percent rise in the previous month.  The indexes for
both diesel and residual fuel also dropped after increasing a month earlier.
Prices for gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, and commercial electric power
rose less than a month ago.  On the other hand, the index for utility
natural gas turned up 4.6 percent after falling 0.4 percent in October.
Prices for industrial electric power rose more than in the prior month.

     The index for intermediate foods and feeds fell 2.2 percent after
declining 2.0 percent in the previous month.  The index for natural and
processed cheese dropped 7.0 percent after decreasing 0.2 percent in
October.  Prices for flour also fell more than a month earlier.  Indexes for
confectionery materials and for condensed and evaporated milk turned down
after rising in the prior month.  Prices for pork rose less than a month
ago.  The decline in the index for prepared animal feeds, however, slowed to
2.8 percent from 5.2 percent in the previous month.  Prices for crude
vegetable oils also fell less than in the previous month, and the index for
refined sugar turned up after falling in October.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
increased 1.8 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, after falling 0.6
percent a month earlier.  The index for energy materials rose more than in
the prior month, and prices for foodstuffs and feedstuffs fell less than in
October.  By contrast, the index for basic industrial materials turned down
after rising a month ago.  (See table B.)

     The rise in the index for crude energy materials accelerated to 7.7
percent from 1.5 percent in October.  Prices for natural gas turned up 25.1
percent after falling 3.2 percent in the previous month.  The index for coal
also increased after declining in the prior month.  On the other hand,
prices for crude petroleum turned down 4.6 percent after rising 8.5 percent
in the prior month.
                                     -5-
     Price declines for intermediate foods and feeds slowed to 1.9 percent
from 2.7 percent in the previous month.  The index for corn fell 10.2
percent after declining 18.3 percent a month ago.  Prices for soybeans also
fell less than a month earlier.  Indexes for slaughter hogs and for fresh
and dry vegetables rose more than in October.  By contrast, the index for
slaughter cattle turned down 2.2 percent after rising 1.0 percent in the
previous month.  Prices for fresh fruits and melons and unprocessed
shellfish also declined after increasing a month ago.  The index for hay
remained unchanged after rising a month earlier, and fluid milk prices fell
more than in the prior month.

     The index for crude nonfood materials less energy turned down 0.3
percent after rising the same amount in the previous month.  Prices for iron
and steel scrap fell 6.8 percent after decreasing 4.3 percent a month ago.
The indexes for wastepaper, cattle hides, and raw cotton turned down after
rising a month earlier.  Prices for hardwood logs, bolts, and timber
remained unchanged after rising in October.  Conversely, the index for
aluminum base scrap turned up 6.4 percent after falling 1.5 percent in the
prior month.  Prices for copper ores and for softwood logs, bolts, and
timber rose more than in the previous month.

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic
mining industries advanced 6.8 percent in November, after increasing 2.7
percent in October.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.)
In November, prices for the oil and gas extraction industry group index rose
8.9 percent, after increasing 3.9 percent in the previous month.  Prices
advanced for the metal mining industry group after showing no change in the
previous month.  Prices for the bituminous coal and lignite mining industry
group turned up after falling in October.  The index for nonmetallic
minerals mining, however, increased 0.2 percent after rising 0.6 percent a
month earlier.  In November, the Producer Price index for total mining stood
at 88.4 (December 1984=100), 25.4 percent higher than a year earlier.

Manufacturing.  The Producer Price Index for total domestic manufacturing
industries moved down 0.2 percent in November, after rising 0.5 percent in
the previous month. The index for the petroleum refining industry group
increased 0.4 percent after rising 2.6 percent in the previous month.  Price
increases also slowed for the apparel industry group.  Prices fell more than
in October for the food and kindred products, textile mill products, and
measuring instruments industry groups.  Prices turned down after rising a
month earlier for the industry groups for printing and publishing, and
miscellaneous manufacturing industries.  The index for the transportation
equipment industry group was unchanged after rising 2.4 percent in the
preceding month.  By contrast, prices turned up for the industry groups for
lumber and wood products, leather and leather products, and nonmetallic
mineral products.  Price declines slowed for the industry groups for paper
and allied products and for rubber and plastic products.  In November the
index for total manufacturing was 128.0 (December 1984=100), 2.3 percent
above its year earlier level.

Other.  Among other industries in November, prices for collection of
recovered paper turned down 2.6 percent, after increasing up 8.5 percent in
October.   Prices also fell after rising in the previous month for general
warehousing and storage; water transportation of freight, not elsewhere
classified; nonscheduled air transportation; airports and airport services;
travel agencies; freight transportation arrangement; telephone
communications, except radio telephone; and psychiatric hospitals.  Prices
fell more than in October for collection of ferrous scrap metal, real estate
agents and managers, and passenger car rental.  Price increases slowed for
deep sea domestic transportation of freight, radio broadcasting, skilled and
intermediate care facilities, and for general medical and surgical
hospitals.

                                      
                                     -6-
     By contrast, indexes turned up after falling in October for
refrigerated warehousing and storage, collection of nonferrous metal scrap,
operators of nonresidential buildings, building cleaning and maintenance
services, and for truck rental and leasing.  Price increases accelerated for
air passenger transportation, and employment agencies.  Prices declined less
than in October for electric power utilities.


                                    *****
             Producer Price Index data for December 1996 will be
           released on Thursday, January 9, at 8:30 a.m. (E.S.T.)
                                      
The following is the schedule of 1997 release dates for Producer Price Index
data:

Reference Month               Release Date

January 1997                  Friday, February 14
February                 Friday, March 14
March                         Friday, April 11
April                         Wednesday, May 14
May                      Friday, June 13
June                          Friday, July 11
July                          Wednesday, August 13
August                   Friday, September 12
September                     Friday, October 10
October                  Friday, November 14
November                 Friday, December 12
December                 Thursday, January 8, 1998

                                    *****
Information in this news release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-7828; TDD phone: 202-606-
5897; TDD Message Referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.
                                     -7-
              New Seasonal Adjustment Method to be Implemented

Effective with the release of January data on February 14, 1997, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics will begin using X-12 ARIMA seasonal adjustment software
(developed by the Bureau of the Census) for performing Intervention Analysis
Seasonal Adjustment (IASA).  The X-12 ARIMA methodology incorporates a
number of technical enhancements that improve the estimation of seasonal
factors.  This change will affect 16 PPI series.  In addition, all remaining
Producer Price Index series requiring seasonal adjustment will be processed
using X-12 ARIMA software beginning in February 1998.  Seasonal adjustment
methods in the Consumer Price Index will change in similar fashion.

To request a report that describes the new methodology and its effects on
the Finished Goods index, please contact Angelo Maggi on (202) 606-7729 or
see "Assessing the Impact of February 1997 Improvements to PPI procedures
for intervention analysis seasonal adjustment" in the November 1996 issue of
PPI Detailed Report.


         Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on
                              February 12, 1997

Seasonal adjustment factors for the PPI are recalculated in January each
year to reflect price movements for the prior calendar year.  This routine
annual recalculation may result in revisions to seasonally adjusted indexes
for the previous five years.  BLS will make available recalculated
seasonally adjusted indexes, as well as recalculated seasonal adjustment
factors, for the period January 1992 through December 1996, at 8:30 a.m. on
Wednesday, February 12, 1997.  This date is two days before the scheduled
release of the January 1997 PPI on Friday, February 14, 1997.


The recalculated 1992-1996 seasonally adjusted indexes will be available on
the BLS Web site at http://stats.bls.gov.  The recalculated 1992-1996
seasonal adjustment factors will be available on the BLS ftp site at
ftp://stats.bls.gov.  Choose the "pub" directory, the "special.requests"
directory, and the "ppi" directory.  The revised stage-of-processing index
factors will be in the file, "sopsf97.txt."  The revised commodity index
factors will be in the file, "commsf97.txt."

This information may also be requested from the Division of Industrial
Prices and Price Indexes, Section of Index Analysis, at (202) 606-7705.



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|                       |Nov. 1996 from:|
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|_______________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                 |           July   |Oct.   |Nov.   |  Nov. | Oct.  |Aug. to|Sept. to |Oct.  to
                                                 |   1995 1/|1996 2/|1996 2/|1996 2/|  1995 | 1996  |  Sept.|   Oct.  |  Nov.
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|____________
                                                 |
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   131.5   132.5   132.5     3.0    0        0.2      0.4     0.4
  Finished consumer goods........................|   75.328   129.9   131.0   131.0     3.8    0         .2       .5      .5
    Finished consumer foods......................|   23.341   133.9   136.4   135.9     3.7    -.4       .2       .8     -.1
      Crude......................................|    1.542   123.7   135.7   135.1     7.1    -.4      3.9      8.1      .4
      Processed..................................|   21.799   134.6   136.4   135.9     3.4    -.4      -.1       .4     -.1
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.987   128.0   128.6   128.7     3.9     .1       .2       .4      .7
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.295   124.0   124.2   124.5     5.7     .2       .1       .9      .9
      Durable goods..............................|   16.692   133.8   135.1   135.1      .3    0         .5      -.6      .1
  Capital equipment..............................|   24.672   138.1   138.6   138.7      .3     .1       .3      -.4      .3
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.146   137.1   137.4   137.4      .1    0         .1      -.1      .1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   18.526   138.4   139.0   139.1      .4     .1       .4      -.4      .3
                                                 |
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   125.9   126.0   125.9      .6    -.1       .3      0        .2
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   50.055   128.3   128.3   128.3    -1.7    0         .2      -.2     0
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.315   128.5   129.1   127.0     3.4   -1.6       .5       .2    -1.5
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   16.240   129.4   129.7   129.9    -3.7     .2       .2      -.2      .1
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   11.189   130.7   130.6   131.0    -2.2     .3       .6      -.4      .4
    Components for manufacturing.................|   19.311   126.7   126.6   126.6     -.4    0        0        0       0
  Materials and components for construction......|   12.541   143.7   144.2   144.8     1.8     .4       .4      -.3      .4
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   12.359    91.1    92.2    91.6    11.3    -.7       .8      1.8     1.2
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    4.913    93.4    93.9    94.1    11.1     .2       .4      2.0     2.5
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    7.446    89.6    91.0    90.0    11.5   -1.1      1.1      1.6      .4
  Containers.....................................|    3.875   139.6   137.9   138.2    -8.5     .2      -.1      -.4      .1
  Supplies.......................................|   21.170   136.4   135.9   135.5      .9    -.3       .3      -.6     -.4
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.550   138.9   139.0   138.8      .4    -.1       .1      -.1     -.1
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   13.620   135.1   134.4   133.7     1.1    -.5       .4      -.8     -.4
      Feeds......................................|    1.541   138.4   133.2   128.4     9.8   -3.6      2.3     -6.3    -3.8
      Other supplies.............................|   12.079   134.6   134.6   134.5      .1    -.1       .1       .1     -.1
                                                 |
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   115.6   111.3   113.6     9.4    2.1     -1.5      -.6     1.8
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   44.045   130.9   119.4   117.9     3.2   -1.3     -3.8     -2.7    -1.9
  Nonfood materials..............................|   55.955   101.2   101.9   106.6    14.4    4.6       .6      1.1     4.7
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   38.758   102.6   109.4   107.5     7.4   -1.7      3.2      2.7    -1.6
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   34.758    94.5   101.4    99.2     8.2   -2.2      3.6      2.9    -2.0
      Construction...............................|    4.000   193.1   195.9   198.6     1.0    1.4       .5       .7     1.5
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   17.197    89.2    79.4    95.1    31.2   19.8     -4.8     -2.7    19.8
      Manufacturing industries...................|    3.654    87.6    79.0    92.8    27.5   17.5     -4.1     -2.5    17.5
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   13.543    90.8    80.5    96.8    32.1   20.2     -5.1     -2.7    20.2
                                                 |
               Special groupings                 |
                                                 |
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.659   130.8   131.3   131.4     2.7     .1       .2       .2      .6
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.144   125.6   125.8   125.8      .4    0         .2       .1      .3
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.856   131.9   130.7   127.7     5.4   -2.3      1.1     -2.0    -2.2
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 53.384   100.6   101.2   106.2    15.6    4.9       .6      1.0     5.0
                                                 |
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.443    84.2    84.5    84.9    12.9     .5       .2      1.9     2.3
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.557   139.6   140.8   140.7     1.4    -.1       .2       .1      .1
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.885   140.2   141.6   141.4     1.9    -.1       .2       .2     0
                                                 |
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 63.216   141.9   142.5   142.5      .6    0         .3      -.3      .1
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.544   144.3   144.9   144.9      .8    0         .2      -.1     0
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.852   151.8   151.8   151.8     1.3    0        0         .2     0
                                                 |
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 12.503    90.9    91.9    91.4    11.2    -.5       .8      1.7     1.2
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 87.497   133.5   133.5   133.4     -.9    -.1       .2      -.2     -.1
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 82.641   133.6   133.6   133.8    -1.2     .1       .1      -.1      .1
                                                 |
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 32.219    81.8    82.7    89.1    30.5    7.7       .6      1.5     7.7
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 67.781   135.8   127.5   126.2     -.2   -1.0     -2.5     -1.7    -1.4
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 23.736   152.4   152.6   151.6    -6.5    -.7       .6       .3     -.3
                                                 |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
  1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          3/  Includes crude petrolem.
      after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            4/  Excludes crude petroleum.
      after final December indexes are available.  The first-published          5/  Percent of total finished goods.
      and final December relative importances initially appear,                 6/  Pecent of total intermediate materials.
      respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data.      7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for
  2/  The indexes for July  1996 have been recalculated to incorporate              further processing, excluding crude
      late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and
      are subject to revision four months after original publication.               animal fibers, oilseeds, and leaf tobacco."
                                                                                8/  Percent of total crude materials.

Table 2.  Producer Price Indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Nov. 1996 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |July   |Oct.   |Nov.   | Nov.  | Oct.  |Aug. to|Sept.to|Oct. to
           |                                                       |1996 1/|1996 1/|1996 1/| 1995  | 1996  |  Sept.|  Oct. |  Nov.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 131.5   132.5   132.5     3.0    0        0.2     0.4     0.4
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 129.9   131.0   131.0     3.8    0         .2      .5      .5
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 133.9   136.4   135.9     3.7    -.4       .2      .8     -.1
           |                                                       |
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................|  95.8   126.1   103.8    16.5  -17.7     24.6     6.8   -17.7
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 132.4   113.8   132.7     4.8   16.6     -7.7     7.0    16.6
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100) 2/...............|  95.1   102.4   114.7     3.7   12.0      3.6    -4.9    12.0
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 170.2   172.7   172.8     3.6     .1      0       1.1      .1
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 132.7   128.9   126.8    -2.8   -1.6      -.3    -2.9    -1.6
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 126.4   127.9   128.4     1.3     .4      -.1     1.3      .4
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................|  99.1   104.6   108.6     7.7    3.8      1.1     1.4     1.3
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 125.4   127.0   122.7    19.9   -3.4     -7.5     4.4     1.3
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 126.2   127.2   126.6     5.1    -.5      0       1.1     2.1
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................| 107.4   104.8   103.4    -7.8   -1.3     -2.3    -2.6     1.3
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 163.8   169.2   175.4    -2.2    3.7     -1.1     5.9     1.3
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 134.6   140.7   135.2     8.2   -3.9      1.8      .2    -4.5
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 128.1   128.8   128.5     3.4    -.2       .9     -.2     -.2
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 167.4   166.9   167.2     2.9     .2       .2     -.5      .2
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 133.1   135.5   134.7      .7    -.6       .4      .6     -.1
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee......................................| 127.3   126.9   127.3    -8.9     .3       .1      .8      .4
02-76      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 139.4   139.7   135.0    -4.5   -3.4       .6     -.2    -3.4
           |                                                       |
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 128.0   128.6   128.7     3.9     .1       .2      .4      .7
           |                                                       |
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 133.1   133.9   134.0     3.3     .1      0        .2     -.1
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 120.2   120.6   119.8     1.4    -.7       .1      .3     -.7
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 132.4   132.4   132.3     1.1    -.1      0        .2      .1
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 121.8   123.8   123.8      .8    0        1.1      .3     0
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 123.3   123.8   123.7     2.9    -.1       .1      .2     -.1
04-3       |   Footwear............................................| 141.7   142.2   142.3     1.4     .1       .2      .1      .1
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 116.8   113.1   110.5      .5   -2.3       .4     -.2     -.2
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 110.6   109.4   113.7    12.8    3.9     -2.1     0       3.8
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  73.6    74.0    76.3    33.4    3.1       .9     5.5     2.8
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  62.6    80.6    77.1    29.4   -4.3      2.0     3.8     -.4
06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription)........| 267.1   266.4   266.5     1.9    0        1.1     -.4      .1
06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter).....| 183.2   183.3   184.0    -1.9     .4       .1      .3      .4
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 125.3   125.7   125.6     1.5    -.1       .2      .2     -.1
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 130.3   128.4   129.7      .2    1.0     -1.2     -.1     1.0
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  96.3    95.8    95.9    -5.0     .1      0      -1.0      .1
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 148.9   148.6   147.6    -2.4    -.7     -1.0      .4     -.7
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation...............................| 199.5   202.4   201.8     4.3    -.3      -.2     1.0     -.7
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 180.7   182.4   181.3     1.5    -.6      -.9     3.2     -.4
09-33      |   Book publishing 2/..................................| 192.5   195.7   195.6     2.4    -.1       .4     1.4     -.1
12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 144.6   144.9   145.3     1.5     .3       .1      .1      .3
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 126.8   127.8   126.8     1.6    -.8       .3      .2     -.8
12-4       |   Household appliances 2/.............................| 113.0   112.8   112.5     -.2    -.3      -.1     -.2     -.3
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  79.2    78.9    78.9     -.6    0         .3     -.1     0
12-62      |   Household glassware 2/..............................| 157.8   157.9   157.9     3.3    0         .1     -.1     0
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 137.7   137.7   137.7     -.1    0        0       0       0
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 132.4   132.6   132.3      .6    -.2      0       0       -.2
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 134.1   137.2   137.4     -.6     .1      1.2    -1.6      .5
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 125.4   125.4   125.3      .7    -.1       .5      .1     -.1
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 123.6   124.2   124.0     1.1    -.2      -.1      .4     -.2
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 240.1   239.0   238.8     2.3    -.1     -1.0      .3     -.1
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 150.2   150.6   151.2     1.7     .4       .1      .1      .4
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 129.1   129.8   129.6     1.3    -.2      -.1      .5     -.2
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 137.0   138.5   138.5     2.7    0        -.6      .3     0
           |                                                       |
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 138.1   138.6   138.7      .3     .1       .3     -.4      .3
           |                                                       |
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 146.3   146.1   146.4      .6     .2       .3      .3      .2
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 140.0   140.2   140.4     2.3     .1       .3      .2      .2
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 152.7   154.2   154.3     2.9     .1       .3      .6      .1
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 150.1   150.3   150.5     2.4     .1      -.2     -.1      .1
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 136.5   136.5   136.6     1.3     .1      0        .1      .1
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 143.4   143.8   144.1     2.0     .2      0       0        .4
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 127.4   127.6   128.0     1.5     .3      0       0        .3
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............|  41.7    40.1    39.3   -19.6   -2.0      -.7    -2.0    -2.0
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 148.4   150.1   149.3      .9    -.5      0       1.1     -.5
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100) 2/.......| 153.9   154.1   154.6     1.7     .3      -.1     0        .3
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 137.0   138.3   138.4     2.8     .1       .1      .4      .1
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 128.5   129.3   129.1    -1.1    -.2       .2      .6     -.2
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 112.9   113.2   111.9     -.4   -1.1       .1     0      -1.1
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 109.7   109.1   109.1    -2.5    0        -.1     -.5     0
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery 2/................| 118.0   118.5   118.8     2.6     .3      0        .3      .3
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 139.4   139.7   138.4      .9    -.9       .2     0       -.9
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 111.7   111.8   111.7     -.1    -.1      -.4      .1     -.1
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 151.8   152.2   152.8     1.7     .4      -.1      .5      .4
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 159.3   163.2   162.7      .6    -.3      1.3    -1.2      .5
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks..................................| 145.4   141.6   142.7    -2.4     .8       .4    -4.4     1.9
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 130.6   130.0   130.2    -1.5     .2      -.1     0        .2
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 147.4   147.4   148.9     3.0    1.0       .1      .1     1.2
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 138.6   144.6   139.0     4.6   -3.9       .1     4.0    -3.9
14-4       |   Railroad equipment..................................| 137.3   136.9   136.3     -.2    -.4       .1      .4     -.4
           |                                                       |
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 125.9   126.0   125.9      .6    -.1       .3     0        .2
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 131.9   130.7   127.7     5.4   -2.3      1.1    -2.0    -2.2
           |                                                       |
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 141.7   127.8   122.5    -9.1   -4.1     -2.0    -1.5    -4.1
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 125.4   123.9   124.1     4.0     .2       .3    -2.1      .2
02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................| 106.8   110.3   110.1      .5    -.2      2.6     5.9     -.7
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 118.7   111.3   109.9   -12.2   -1.3      1.0    -7.7    -1.3
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 139.8   135.6   131.8     9.3   -2.8      2.4    -5.2    -2.8
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 125.6   125.8   125.8      .4    0         .2      .1      .3
           |                                                       |
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 111.7   111.6   111.9      .1     .3       .3    -1.5      .3
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 114.5   116.2   114.8      .8   -1.2      1.0      .3    -1.2
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 121.1   120.9   120.6     -.2    -.2      -.3     -.2     -.2
03-4       |   Finished fabrics 2/.................................| 123.7   123.7   124.1     1.5     .3      -.1     -.1      .3
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 127.4   127.8   127.9     5.9     .1      5.5     -.1      .1
04-2       |   Leather 2/..........................................| 172.7   171.9   179.5    -2.2    4.4      1.1    -2.8     4.4
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  76.0    92.6   102.7    57.5   10.9       .1    18.4    10.9
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2.  Producer Price Indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing - Continued
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Nov. 1996 from:|
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
           |                                                       |July   |Oct.   |Nov.   | Nov.  | Oct.  |Aug. to|Sept.to|Oct. to
           |                                                       |1996 1/|1996 1/|1996 1/| 1995  | 1996  |  Sept.|  Oct. |  Nov.
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
           |                                                       |
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
           |   -Continued..........................................|
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 139.1   131.2   127.9     0.6   -2.5      0.8     0.5     0.2
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 136.0   130.9   129.0     1.1   -1.5       .5      .2     1.5
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100) 2/...........| 101.2    99.4   105.0     7.8    5.6     -2.5     -.1     5.6
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100) 2/...........|  98.0    96.3   102.8    13.0    6.7     -1.2     -.9     6.7
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100) 2/|  87.3    82.0    82.9   -10.0    1.1     -2.5    -5.3     1.1
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  62.0    75.3    72.6    24.1   -3.6      6.8     1.6    -7.0
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  66.1    80.3    77.0    29.0   -4.1       .4     1.5    -3.0
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  61.5    63.1    63.0    34.0    -.2       .2     3.4     -.2
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 126.8   127.3   127.9     2.6     .5       .4     -.1      .5
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 146.4   146.6   146.6     2.0    0         .3      .2      .1
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 141.1   140.7   140.4    -1.5    -.2      -.5     0       -.2
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 129.2   128.7   128.8      .5     .1      -.3     -.1      .1
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 136.3   144.3   124.9    -7.5  -13.4      9.1   -10.3   -13.4
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 115.1   113.7   113.6     2.3    -.1       .3     -.1      .3
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 122.9   129.9   131.7     5.1    1.4      1.8     4.2     -.4
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 111.7   110.8   113.5     -.4    2.4     -1.3      .4     2.4
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals........................| 144.3   146.1   146.6     1.5     .3       .3      .2      .2
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 133.2   138.4   138.3     1.8    -.1      1.8      .9     -.1
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 122.1   121.8   121.8    -4.7    0        -.5      .3     0
07-21      |   Plastic construction products 2/....................| 131.8   129.8   130.0    -2.0     .2      -.6    -1.0      .2
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes.....| 133.3   133.9   134.0    -1.5     .1      -.1     -.1     -.2
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.6   117.3   117.3      .4    0         .2     -.3     0
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 191.6   194.3   204.8    19.9    5.4      2.7    -5.1     5.4
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber 2/..................................| 163.1   164.5   165.0      .5     .3       .1      .7      .3
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 167.0   168.8   169.3     3.6     .3       .5     0        .3
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 154.0   161.1   157.8    -2.4   -2.0      5.7    -3.8    -2.0
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 125.5   128.8   128.0   -34.5    -.6      -.3      .3     -.6
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 146.4   142.2   141.2   -15.2    -.7     -1.2     -.8     -.7
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 148.0   147.0   148.4   -20.1    1.0      -.1    -1.0     1.0
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 151.1   147.5   148.0   -12.3     .3      -.3     -.5      .3
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 137.4   138.7   136.2    -6.4   -1.8      2.3    -1.4    -1.8
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 148.7   147.9   147.3      .3    -.4      0       -.6     -.4
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 132.7   132.9   132.8     1.5    -.1       .1      .1      .1
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 115.5   116.3   116.5    -1.2     .2       .3     -.1      .2
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 122.4   114.7   115.8   -17.6    1.0      -.5    -1.6     1.0
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 145.7   140.5   138.9   -11.0   -1.1      -.4    -1.4    -1.1
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 172.3   171.0   173.5   -10.9    1.5      -.1      .3     1.5
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 145.9   145.8   145.6    -4.6    -.1       .3      .6     -.1
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 109.6   108.5   108.4    -7.9    -.1      0      -1.0     -.1
10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 143.7   144.6   144.0     1.5    -.4       .1      .5     -.4
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 171.6   171.6   171.7     3.0     .1       .4      .1      .3
10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 151.5   151.9   151.9     2.4    0         .1      .2      .1
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 138.0   138.6   138.7     1.5     .1       .1      .4     0
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 127.2   127.1   127.4     1.4     .2       .4     -.4      .2
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 125.6   125.9   126.0      .5     .1       .2      .1      .1
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 151.5   151.7   152.2     2.6     .3       .2      .3      .6
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 132.8   132.2   132.7     1.2     .4      -.5      .2      .3
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100)........| 149.8   150.1   150.9     2.4     .5       .2      .5      .4
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings 2/.........................| 157.8   158.8   158.8     2.5    0         .1      .6     0
11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 151.5   151.5   151.9     2.2     .3       .1      .1      .3
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 146.1   145.9   145.9      .6    0         .3     -.1      .1
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 142.1   143.2   143.7     1.4     .3      -.1      .8      .1
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............| 108.0   107.7   107.8    -4.7     .1      -.7     -.3      .1
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 139.1   139.4   139.8     2.6     .3       .2     -.1      .6
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 134.1   133.7   134.7     2.0     .7       .3     0        .7
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 109.5   109.5   109.4    -2.4    -.1       .5      .4     -.1
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 135.0   135.2   135.4     4.4     .1       .4      .3      .6
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 133.6   133.9   134.7     3.0     .6       .4      .1      .3
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................|  99.7   100.1   100.4     -.7     .3       .3     -.8      .3
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 152.5   162.1   163.9     8.2    1.1      1.1     1.8     1.1
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 129.6   129.3   129.3    -1.4    0        -.4     0       0
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 116.3   115.9   115.9     -.5    0        0        .1     0
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 134.4   134.8   134.8      .7    0         .1      .3     0
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 139.0   138.2   138.2     1.6    0         .1      .1     0
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 129.8   129.7   129.7     1.3    0        1.9     0       0
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 143.6   142.4   142.3      .2    -.1      -.1     -.9      .2
           |                                                       |
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 115.6   111.3   113.6     9.4    2.1     -1.5     -.6     1.8
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 130.9   119.4   117.9     3.2   -1.3     -3.8    -2.7    -1.9
           |                                                       |
01-21      |   Wheat...............................................| 139.0   118.6   117.3   -13.8   -1.1     -9.8    -4.5    -3.8
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................| 209.8   117.3   108.2   -14.2   -7.8    -24.0   -18.3   -10.2
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle....................................|  95.4   101.9   102.8     3.2     .9      6.8     1.0    -2.2
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  96.7    92.2    90.5    36.9   -1.8     -6.0     7.2    12.5
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 160.9   151.1   158.6     4.1    5.0     -3.3     5.0     3.3
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 126.0   127.6   132.7   -12.6    4.0     -5.0     -.1     3.9
01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................| 113.3   115.5   110.7     9.9   -4.2       .9    -3.3    -4.9
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans............................................| 132.9   117.6   117.6     3.2    0        -.4   -13.6    -4.2
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 118.3   119.7   118.1     -.8   -1.3       .5      .3    -1.3
 
           |                                                       |
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 101.2   101.9   106.6    14.4    4.6       .6     1.1     4.7
           |                                                       |
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................| 128.8   120.3   113.3   -19.5   -5.8     -2.9     1.2    -2.8
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................|  94.1   112.6     (3)     (3)    (3)     12.2     1.9     (3)
04-11      |   Cattle hides........................................| 186.0   205.4   204.9    16.0    -.2     -3.6    12.1     -.8
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  93.3    94.1    94.6     -.2     .5      3.1    -2.5      .5
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................|  87.3    75.3    94.2    40.6   25.1     -6.4    -3.2    25.1
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  59.9    71.7    68.4    39.6   -4.6      7.3     8.5    -4.6
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc. 2/...............................| 201.7   207.5   211.3     -.1    1.8       .8     1.7     1.8
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 134.9   151.7   147.6   -13.4   -2.7      2.9     8.6    -2.7
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  96.7    96.7    96.7     3.4    0       -1.0     0       0
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 190.5   183.7   171.3   -11.3   -6.8       .4    -4.3    -6.8
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  86.6    83.5    84.7   -16.1    1.4      -.7     -.2     1.4
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 157.9   152.1   152.4   -23.4     .2     -1.3      .1      .2
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 167.2   159.0   165.9    -9.8    4.3      1.7    -1.5     6.4
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 145.9   145.8   146.2     1.8     .3      0        .1      .4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
1/  The indexes for  July 1996     have been recalculated                            2/  Not seasonally adjusted.
    to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.                      3/  Not available.
    All indexes are subject to revision four months after original
    publication.
 
 
 
 
 
1Table 3.  Producer Price Indexes for selected commodity groupings
           (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
          |                                                |                                   |
          |                                                |         Unadjusted index 1/       |
 Commodity|                                                |___________________________________|
   code   |                    Grouping                    | July 1996 | Oct. 1996 | Nov. 1996 |
 _________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   369.1   |   372.0   |   371.9   |
          | All commodities................................|   128.0   |   127.9   |   128.1   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   133.2   |   130.6   |   129.3   |
 01       |   Farm products................................|   129.9   |   119.8   |   118.0   |
 02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   134.8   |   135.9   |   134.9   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Industrial commodities.........................|   127.0   |   127.4   |   127.8   |
 03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   122.6   |   122.9   |   122.7   |
 04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   149.4   |   152.0   |   153.6   |
 05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    85.9   |    86.7   |    88.1   |
 06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   142.0   |   142.9   |   143.2   |
 07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   123.9   |   123.9   |   123.8   |
 08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   175.0   |   177.9   |   180.5   |
 09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   167.0   |   166.8   |   166.6   |
 10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   130.4   |   129.6   |   129.5   |
 11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   126.3   |   126.2   |   126.1   |
 12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   130.6   |   130.8   |   130.8   |
 13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   131.2   |   131.7   |   132.1   |
 14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   141.3   |   142.5   |   142.5   |
 15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   148.3   |   148.1   |   148.2   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
          |   products and power...........................|   138.3   |   138.6   |   138.6   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
 01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
          |   and tree nuts................................|   118.8   |   129.2   |   122.5   |
 01-2     | Grains.........................................|   184.9   |   118.8   |   112.2   |
 01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    97.4   |   100.5   |   100.7   |
 01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   151.3   |   144.3   |   151.3   |
 01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|   128.2   |   119.9   |   113.1   |
 01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   116.7   |   128.8   |   143.9   |
 01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   149.9   |   140.4   |   140.1   |
 01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   144.7   |   128.0   |   127.6   |
 01-9     | Other farm products............................|   140.3   |   167.9   |  'N.A.'   |
 02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   160.2   |   159.3   |   158.4   |
 02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   118.0   |   120.5   |   121.2   |
 02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   123.1   |   123.1   |   122.4   |
 02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   137.8   |   138.2   |   138.2   |
 02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   134.3   |   135.4   |   135.2   |
 02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   126.0   |   125.7   |   126.0   |
 02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   132.3   |   128.2   |   125.7   |
 03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.1   |   125.5   |   125.2   |
 04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   141.5   |   141.1   |   141.1   |
 05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|    83.2   |    78.9   |    95.2   |
 05-4     | Electric power.................................|   137.0   |   131.5   |   128.6   |
 05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    69.0   |    74.2   |    74.5   |
 06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   215.4   |   215.2   |   215.3   |
 06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   129.9   |   131.7   |   133.1   |
 06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   132.5   |   132.3   |   132.8   |
 07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   116.1   |   115.9   |   116.1   |
 07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   121.4   |   121.1   |   121.1   |
 07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   136.6   |   136.7   |   136.9   |
 07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   130.8   |   130.9   |   130.7   |
 08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   181.0   |   183.3   |   190.7   |
 09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
          |   paper and board..............................|   146.6   |   145.3   |   145.1   |
 09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   151.7   |   150.4   |   150.4   |
 10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   125.8   |   125.7   |   124.6   |
 10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   133.9   |   130.4   |   131.1   |
 10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   142.8   |   139.4   |   138.6   |
 11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   143.3   |   143.7   |   143.7   |
 11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   142.6   |   142.7   |   143.2   |
 11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   153.4   |   153.8   |   154.0   |
 11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   123.1   |   123.1   |   122.7   |
 11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   129.5   |   129.5   |   129.9   |
 12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   148.4   |   148.4   |   148.5   |
 13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   139.4   |   139.4   |   139.7   |
 14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   133.5   |   135.0   |   135.0   |
 15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   130.5   |   131.1   |   131.0   |
 15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   119.9   |   118.6   |   118.6   |
 15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   132.7   |   133.0   |   132.9   |
 __________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
 
 1/  Data for  July 1996 have been revised to reflect the
     availability of late reports and corrections by
     respondents.  All data are subject to revision 4
     months after original publication.
 
 2/  Prices of some items in this grouping are lagged 1 month.
 
1
1Table #4       Producer price indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                   |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change
   Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Nov._1996_from:__
     code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                   |                                              |     |July   |Oct.   |Nov.   |  Nov.  |  Oct.
                   |                                              |     |1996 2/|1996 2/|1996 2/|  1995  |  1996
 __________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|___________
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  81.0    82.8    88.4    25.4     6.8
        10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  89.2    87.0    88.1   -11.9     1.3
        12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  90.5    91.4    91.5      .1      .1
        13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  80.7    83.2    90.6    37.3     8.9
        14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                   |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 127.2   126.9   127.2     2.3      .2
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 127.1   128.2   128.0     2.3     -.2
        20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 128.3   129.8   128.7     4.0     -.8
        21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 201.1   201.1   201.1     3.1     0
        22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 118.3   118.6   118.4     1.0     -.2
        23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                   |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 122.6   123.0   123.1     2.0      .1
        24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 153.3   154.9   156.2     2.7      .8
        25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 136.2   136.6   137.0     1.6      .3
        26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 136.3   134.9   134.7   -10.7     -.1
        27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 165.2   166.1   166.0     2.1     -.1
        28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 145.9   146.9   146.8     1.5     -.1
        29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  86.3    92.0    92.4    25.9      .4
        30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 123.2   123.4   123.3     -.2     -.1
        31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 134.1   134.0   135.1      .5      .8
        32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 125.8   126.3   126.7     1.4      .3
        33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 123.2   122.8   122.8    -3.4     0
        34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                   |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 126.2   126.4   126.5      .6      .1
        35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 119.1   118.9   118.9     -.3     0
        36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                   |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 113.0   113.0   113.1     -.4      .1
        37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 133.8   135.3   135.3      .7     0
        38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                   |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                   |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.2   124.9   124.2     -.8     -.6
        39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 127.9   128.4   128.3     1.4     -.1
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Services industries                           |     |
        42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 106.2   107.5   107.6     2.6      .1
        43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3   132.3   132.3     0       0
        44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 103.0   104.0   104.2      .5      .2
        45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 122.5   122.5   122.8     4.1      .2
        46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86| 104.0   103.9   103.9    -6.1     0
        80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 104.6   105.1   105.2     1.7      .1
                   |                                              |     |
 __________________|______________________________________________|_____|____________________________________________
01/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes shown in table 5.
    Because of differences in coverage and aggregation methodology, they will generally not match the movements
    of similarly-titled indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings shown in table 6.
 2/ The indexes for July 1996 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.
    All indexes are subject to revision four months  after original publication.
 3/ Not available.
Technical Notes





Brief Explanation of
Producer Price Indexes

     Producer price indexes (PPI) measure average changes in
prices received by domestic producers of commodities in all
stages of processing. Most of the information used in
calculating the indexes is obtained through the systematic
sampling of nearly every industry in the manufacturing and
mining sectors of the economy. The PPI program also includes
some information from other sectors--agriculture, fishing,
forestry, services, and gas and electricity. Because
producer price indexes are designed to measure only the
change in prices received for the output of domestic
industries, imports are not included. The sample currently
contains about 3,200 commodities and 80,000 quotations per
month.
     There are three primary systems of indexes within the
PPI program: (1) Stage of processing indexes; (2) commodity
indexes; and (3) indexes for the net output of industries
and their products. The stage-of-processing structure
(tables 1 and 2) organizes products by class of buyer and
degree of processing. The commodity structure (tables 2 and
3) organizes products by similarity of end-use or material
composition. The entire output of various industries is
sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of
industries and their products (table 4).
     Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods
are commodities that will not undergo further processing and
are ready for sale to the final demand user, either an
individual consumer or business firm. Consumer foods include
unprocessed foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables, as well
as processed foods such as bakery products and meats. Other
finished consumer goods include durable goods such as
automobiles, household furniture, and appliances, and
nondurable goods such as apparel and home heating oil.
Capital equipment includes producer durable goods such as
heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine tools.
     The stage-of-processing category for intermediate
materials, supplies, and components consists partly of
commodities that have been processed but require further
processing. Examples of such semifinished goods include
flour, cotton yarn, steel mill products, and lumber. The
intermediate goods category also encompasses nondurable,
physically complete items purchased by business firms as
inputs for their operations. Examples include diesel fuel,
belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers.
     Crude materials for further processing are products
entering the market for the first time that have not been
manufactured or fabricated and that are not sold directly to
consumers. Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs include items
such as grains and livestock. Examples of crude nonfood
materials include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides
and skins, and iron and steel scrap.
     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries
and their products are grouped according to the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) and the Census product code
extension of the SIC. Industry price indexes are compatible
with other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such
as data on employment, wages, and productivity. Table 4
lists indexes for the net output of major mining and
manufacturing industry groups at the 2-digit level.
     Producer price indexes are based on selling prices
reported by establishments of all sizes selected by
probability sampling, with the probability of selection
proportionate to size. Individual items and transaction
terms from these firms are also chosen by probability
proportionate to size. BLS strongly encourages cooperating
companies to supply actual transaction prices at the time of
shipment to minimize the use of list prices. Prices are
normally reported by mail questionnaire for the Tuesday of
the week containing the 13th.
     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential
basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to
individual company price reports. All producer price indexes
are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months after
original publication, to reflect the availability of late
reports and corrections by respondents.
     Net output values of shipments are used as weights for
industry indexes. Net output values refer to the value of
shipments from establishments in one industry to
establishments classified in another industry. However,
weights for commodity price indexes are based on gross
shipment values, including shipment values between
establishments within the same industry. As a result, broad
commodity grouping indexes such as the all commodities index
are affected by the multiple counting of price change at
successive stages of processing, which can lead to
exaggerated or misleading signals about inflation. Stage-of-
processing indexes partially correct this defect, but
industry indexes consistently correct for this at all levels
of aggregation. Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing
indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings
for economic analysis of general price trends.
     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the
PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing
indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings,
currently reflect 1987 values of shipments as reported in
the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January
1987 through December 1991, PPI weights were derived from
1982 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are
also now calculated with 1987 net output weights.
     Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many
important PPI series (including stage-of-processing
groupings and most commodity groups and individual items)
were placed on a new reference base, 1982=100, to coincide
with the reference year of the shipment weights. From 1971
through 1987, the standard reference base for most PPI
series was 1967=100. Except for rounding differences, the
shift to the new reference base did not alter any changes to
previously published percent changes for affected PPI
series. (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.) The new
reference base is not used for indexes with a base later
than December 1981, nor for indexes for the net output of
industries and their products.
     For further information on the underlying concepts and
methodology of the Producer Price Index, see chapter 16,
"Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (September
1992), Bulletin 2414. Reprints are available from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics on request.

Calculating Index Changes

     Movements of price indexes from one month to another
are usually expressed as percent changes rather than as
changes in index points because index point chances are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period, while percent changes are not. The box shows the
computation of index point and percent changes.
     Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods can be
expressed as annual rates that are computed according to the
standard formula for compound growth rates. These data
indicate what the percent change would be if the rate for a
given 3- or 6-month span were maintained for a 12-month
period.





                Index Point Change

     Finished Goods Price Index    107.5
     Less previous index           104.0
     Equals index point change       3.5

          Index Percent Change

     Index point change              3.5
     Divided by the previous index 104.0
     Equals                          0.034
     Result multiplied by 100        0.034 x 100
     Equals percent change           3.4

     Each index measures price changes from a reference
period which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). An
increase of 5.5 percent from the reference period in the
Finished Goods Price Index, for example, is shown as 105.5.
This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:
"Prices received by domestic producers of a systematic
sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to
$105.50 to-day." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would
indicate that prices received by producers of finished goods
today are 10 percent lower than they were in 1982.

Seasonally Adjusted
and Unadjusted Data

     Because price data are used for different purposes by
different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
month.
     Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing
general price trends in the economy because they eliminate
the effect of changes that normally occur at about the same
time and in about the same magnitude every year-such as
price movements resulting from normal weather patterns,
regular production and marketing cycles, model changeovers,
seasonal discounts, and holidays. For these reasons,
seasonally adjusted data more clearly reveal underlying
cyclical trends.
     Unadjusted data are of primary interest to users who
need information which can be related to actual dollar
values of transactions. Individuals requiring this
information include marketing specialists, purchasing
agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and
commodity traders. It is the unadjusted data that are
generally cited in escalating long-term contracts such as
purchasing agreements or real estate leases. (See Escalation
and Producer Price Indexes: A Guide for Contracting Parties,
BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from
BLS.)
     For more information, see "Appendix A: Seasonal
Adjustment Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of
Methods (September 1992), Bulletin 2414.