FOR DATA ONLY:  (202) 691-5200      USDL 02-131
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:          TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
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http://www.bls.gov/ppi              MARCH 15, 2002
                                     
                  Producer Price Indexes -- February 2002

     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.2 percent in
February, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This rise followed a 0.1-percent
advance in January and a 0.6-percent decrease in December.  At the earlier
stages of processing, prices for intermediate goods edged down 0.1 percent
in February, after a similar decline in the prior month, and the crude
goods index turned down 0.8 percent, following a 3.7-percent increase in
January.  (See table A.)

     Among finished goods, the rate of increase in prices for finished
consumer foods accelerated from 0.8 percent in January to 1.0 percent in
February.  Prices for finished energy goods also rose faster in February
than in the prior month -- 0.4 percent compared with 0.1 percent.  The
index for finished goods other than foods and energy showed no change,
compared with a 0.1-percent decline in the previous month.

 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  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
  2001                                                    
    Feb.      0.2        0.9        0.5      -0.2          4.0        -0.2      -14.3
    Mar.      -.2         .6       -2.7        .1          3.0         -.3       -6.9
    Apr.       .3         .5         .4        .2          3.7         -.2         .6
    May        .2          0         .5        .2          3.9          .1       -2.0
    June      -.5        -.4       -2.6        .1          2.6         -.2       -8.1
    July     -1.2        -.4       -7.3        .1          1.4        -1.1       -5.3
    Aug.       .4         .7        1.4         0          2.0         -.2        -.7
    Sept.      .4         .1        1.5        .1          1.6          .1       -4.4
    Oct.   r -1.3      r -.1     r -6.7     r -.4        r -.3      r -1.3     r -8.8
    Nov.    r -.6     r -1.0     r -3.2        .1         -1.1       r -.6      r 7.6
    Dec.      -.6          0       -3.9         0         -1.8         -.8       -9.6
                                                                                
  2002                                                                          
    Jan.       .1         .8         .1       -.1         -2.6         -.1        3.7
    Feb.       .2        1.0         .4         0         -2.6         -.1        -.8
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may differ 
from those previously reported because data for October 2001 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 rose 0.1 percent to stand at 137.7 (1982=100).  From February 2001 to
February 2002, prices for finished goods decreased 2.6 percent.  Over the
same period, the finished energy goods index dropped 20.4 percent, prices
for finished goods other than foods and energy gained 0.5 percent, and the
index for finished consumer foods increased 1.9 percent.  Prices received
by producers of intermediate goods declined 4.4 percent for the 12 months
ended in February, and the crude goods index dropped 30.9 percent during
the same period.

Finished goods

     Finished consumer food prices rose 1.0 percent in February, following
a 0.8-percent gain in the prior month.  The beef and veal index increased
7.4 percent, after falling 1.4 percent in January.  The index for soft
drinks also turned up, compared with a decline in the previous month.
Prices for finfish and shellfish, fresh and dry vegetables, and bakery
products advanced at a faster rate in February than they did a month ago.
Partly offsetting these increases, prices for eggs for fresh use decreased
10.8 percent in February, following a 21.8-percent jump in January.  The
indexes for dairy products and for shortening and cooking oils also turned
down in February, after increasing a month earlier.  Prices for processed
young chickens showed no change, following a 3.6-percent increase in
January.
     
     The index for finished energy goods advanced 0.4 percent, after
inching up 0.1 percent in January.  February's increase in finished energy
goods prices was led by the gasoline index -- which rose 4.5 percent in
February.  Price increases for home heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas
also contributed to the advance.  On the other hand, prices for residential
natural gas, residential electric power, and diesel fuel fell in February.
     
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.) |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 2001                                                            
   Feb.   -1.0    -2.0       0.1       3.5      -0.9    -23.0      -1.4      28.0
   Mar.     .1    -2.1        .1       2.3       2.8    -14.0      -1.0      17.1
   Apr.    -.1     -.6       -.1       2.1       -.2      2.1      -2.6      19.6
   May      .6      .4         0       2.3       -.8     -3.2       -.5      13.3
   June    1.0     -.6       -.1       1.2         0    -15.8      -1.0      -4.0
   July     .6    -5.0       -.5       -.2        .6    -12.4       1.0      -7.3
   Aug.    1.8     -.3       -.3       -.2       -.6      -.5      -1.8      -4.5
   Sept.   -.8     1.1       -.1       -.8        .8    -11.0        .2     -14.6
   Oct.  r -.4  r -6.2       -.4      -2.4    r -3.5  r -17.9      -1.5   r -25.1
   Nov. r -1.5  r -2.4       -.2      -2.9    r -5.0   r 28.0       -.6     -18.4
   Dec.   -1.0    -4.0       -.2      -4.0      -1.9    -20.5       -.3     -32.4
                                                                               
 2002                                                                          
   Jan.    -.1     -.6         0      -4.6       4.0      5.6       -.5     -40.4
   Feb.      0     -.7         0      -4.4       2.3     -6.5       1.5     -30.9
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release may 
differ from those previously reported because data for October 2001 have been 
revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by 
respondents.

                                    -3-
                                     
     The capital equipment index increased 0.1 percent, after edging down
0.1 percent in January.  Light motor truck prices rose 0.6 percent in
February, following a 0.6-percent decline a month earlier.  Prices for
integrating and measuring instruments also turned up in February.  The
indexes for communication and related equipment, heavy motor trucks, and
ships advanced, after showing no change in the previous month.  The index
for civilian aircraft posted no change, following a decline in January.  By
contrast, electronic computer prices decreased 4.1 percent, after rising
1.5 percent a month ago.  The indexes for passenger cars, commercial
furniture, and welding machines and equipment also turned down in February.
Prices for x-ray and electromedical equipment and for industrial molds fell
more quickly than they did in the prior month.

     For the second consecutive month, the index for finished consumer
goods other than foods and energy decreased 0.1 percent.  Declining prices
for book publishing, sanitary papers and health products, floor coverings,
passenger cars, and household appliances slightly outweighed rising prices
for light motor trucks, pharmaceutical preparations, periodical
circulation, tires, and sporting and athletic goods.

Intermediate goods

     For the second straight month, the seasonally adjusted Producer Price
Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and Components inched down at a
0.1-percent rate and the index for intermediate goods less foods and energy
showed no change.  In February, falling prices for intermediate energy
goods, components for manufacturing, and construction materials slightly
outweighed rising prices for nondurable manufacturing materials.  The
indexes for durable manufacturing materials and intermediate foods and
foods were unchanged in February.  (See table B.)

     Prices for intermediate energy goods declined at a slightly quicker
pace in February than in the prior month -- down 0.7 percent, after falling
0.6 percent.  Among the utility natural gas indexes, industrial natural
gas, commercial natural gas, and natural gas to electric utilities fell in
February.  Prices for commercial electric power, industrial electric power,
jet fuels, and diesel fuel also decreased.  Partly offsetting these
declines, the indexes for gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas advanced in
February.

     The Producer Price Index for Components for Manufacturing inched down
0.1 percent in February, after registering a 0.3-percent increase in
January.  Leading this downturn, prices for printed circuit assemblies fell
3.9 percent, following an 11.0-percent jump in the previous month.  The
indexes for plastic parts for transportation equipment; unsupported plastic
film, sheet, and shapes; electronic filters, crystals, and transducers; and
for pressed and blown glassware also fell, after rising in the prior month.
Prices for aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment showed no change,
following a January advance.  On the other hand, the index for aircraft
engines and engine parts rose 0.8 percent in February, after declining 1.2
percent a month earlier.  Prices for tires also turned up in February.

     Prices for construction materials edged down 0.1 percent, after rising
0.2 percent in January.  The index for plastic construction products fell
1.0 percent in February, following a 0.2-percent gain in the prior month.
Prices for hardwood lumber also turned down in February.  The indexes for
softwood lumber and for metal valves (except fluid power) increased less
than they did in the previous month, while February prices for nonferrous
wire and cable declined at a faster pace than they did in January.  The
index for asphalt felts and coatings showed no change, after advancing in
the prior month.  Conversely, prices for fabricated structural metal
products showed no change, following a 0.3-percent decrease in January.
The plywood index rose at a faster pace in February than it did a month
earlier.  Prices for gypsum products and for millwork increased, after
falling in the previous month.

                                    -4-

     The index for materials for nondurable manufacturing moved up 0.6
percent in February, following a 1.2-percent drop a month earlier.  Prices
for plastic resins and materials rose 2.8 percent, after posting a 4.1-
percent decline in January.  The indexes for basic organic chemicals and
for inedible fats and oils also turned up in February.  Prices for
medicinal and botanical chemicals and finished fabrics fell less, while
paint materials prices increased more than they did in the prior month.  By
contrast, the index for gray fabrics decreased at a faster pace in
February, 2.0 percent, compared with a 0.2-percent rate of decline in the
previous month.  Paper prices also fell more in February than they did a
month earlier.  The index for fertilizer materials turned down in February.

     Subsequent to a 0.1-percent gain in January, prices for materials for
durable manufacturing were unchanged in February.  The indexes for cold
rolled steel sheet and strip, plywood, building paper and board, gold,
aluminum mill shapes, semi-finished steel mill products, flat glass, and
cement exhibited rising prices in February.  On the other hand, prices for
hot rolled steel sheet and strip, primary aluminum (except extrusion
billet), prepared paint, hardwood lumber, and silver fell in February.

     The index for intermediate foods and feeds showed no change in
February, after edging down 0.1 percent in the prior month.  February's
rising prices for beef and veal; natural, processed, and imitation cheese;
and sausages and deli meats were offset by falling prices for prepared
animal feeds; crude vegetable oils; fluid milk products; confectionery
materials; dry, condensed, and evaporated milk products; and butter.

Crude goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
turned down 0.8 percent in February, following a 3.7-percent increase in
January.  Prices for crude energy materials also fell in February, after
advancing in the prior month.  The crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs index
rose at a slower rate than it did in January.  By contrast, prices for
basic industrial materials turned up, after falling in the previous month.
(See table B.)
     
     The index for crude energy materials declined 6.5 percent in February,
after increasing 5.6 percent in January.  Natural gas prices dropped 20.7
percent, following a 4.9-percent rise in the prior month.  The coal index
turned down 1.6 percent, after advancing 3.2 percent a month earlier.  By
contrast, prices for crude petroleum jumped 13.3 percent, following an 8.1-
percent gain in January.

     The crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs index increased 2.3 percent in
February, after registering a 4.0-percent gain in January.  Rising February
prices for slaughter cattle, fresh vegetables (except potatoes),
unprocessed finfish, fluid milk, and unprocessed shellfish outweighed
decreasing prices for slaughter hogs, fresh fruits and melons, wheat,
slaughter turkeys, alfalfa hay, and soybeans.

     The index for crude nonfood materials less energy turned up 1.5
percent in February, after posting a 0.5-percent decline in January.
Prices for iron and steel scrap rose 5.2 percent, following a 0.7-percent
advance in the previous month.  The indexes for raw cotton and gold ores
also increased at a faster pace than they did in January.  Prices for
pulpwood and iron ore showed no change, after falling in January.  The
indexes for softwood logs, bolts, and timber and for construction sand,
gravel, and crushed stone turned up, after declining in the prior month.
On the other hand, aluminum base scrap prices decreased 0.7 percent in
February, following a 0.7-percent gain in the previous month.  The indexes
for wastepaper and hardwood logs, bolts, and timber also turned down in
February.  Prices for phosphates rose less than they did in January.  The
leaf tobacco index declined at a faster rate than it did in the prior
month.

                                    -5-

Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and services industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Domestic
Mining Industries declined 4.5 percent in February, following a 4.6-percent
advance in January.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally
adjusted.)  Accounting for most of the downturn in mining prices, the crude
petroleum, natural gas, and natural gas liquids industry index fell 7.6
percent in February, after posting a 7.0-percent gain in the previous
month.  The industry indexes for bituminous coal and lignite surface
mining; bituminous coal underground mining; construction sand and gravel;
and coal mining services also turned down in February.  Industry prices for
potash, soda, and borate minerals increased at a slower pace in February
than they did in January.  By contrast, the industry index for oil and gas
well drilling fell 1.1 percent in February, following a 3.0-percent decline
in the prior month.  Prices for the iron ores industry also declined at a
slower rate in February than they did in January.  The gold ores industry
index increased more in February than they did in the previous month.  In
February, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total Mining
Industries stood at 77.9 (December 1984 = 100), 47.9 percent below its year-
ago level.

Manufacturing.  A 0.2-percent increase in the Producer Price Index for the
Net Output of Total Manufacturing Industries followed a similar rise in
January.  Rising prices for the petroleum refining and related products,
food and kindred products, chemicals and allied products, and
transportation equipment industry groups outweighed falling prices for the
machinery, except electrical; rubber and miscellaneous plastic products;
textile mill products; and the paper and allied products industry groups.
In February, the Producer Price Index for the Net Output of Total
Manufacturing Industries stood at 132.0 (December 1984 = 100), 2.1 percent
lower than a year ago.

Services.  Among service industries in February, engineering design,
analysis, and consulting services; passenger car rental; operators and
lessors of nonresidential buildings; help supply services; and courier
services, except by air, posted rising prices.  Alternatively, falling
prices were registered by the industries for data processing services;
prepackaged software; telephone communications, except radiotelephone;
travel agencies; railroads, line-haul operating; advertising agencies; and
for truck rental and leasing.

                                   *****
             Producer Price Index data for March 2002 will be
         released on Friday, April 12, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T.)
Table 1.  Producer price indexes and percent changes by stage of processing                                                    
(1982=100)                                                                                                                     
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                 |          |                       |Unadjusted     |                          
                                                 |          |                       |  percent      |Seasonally adjusted       
                                                 | Relative |    Unadjusted index   |change to      |percent change from:      
                    Grouping                     |importance|                       |Feb. 2002 from:|                          
                                                 |          |_______________________|_______________|__________________________
                                                 |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |        
                                                 |           Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   |  Feb. | Jan.  |Nov. to|Dec.  to |Jan.  to
                                                 |   2001 1/|2001 2/|2002 2/|2002 2/|  2001 | 2002  |  Dec. |   Jan.  |  Feb.  
_________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|________
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods...................................|  100.000   139.7   137.5   137.7    -2.6    0.1     -0.6      0.1     0.2   
  Finished consumer goods........................|   72.937   140.0   137.3   137.6    -3.4     .2      -.7       .2      .4   
    Finished consumer foods......................|   21.004   142.2   141.1   142.7     1.9    1.1      0         .8     1.0   
      Crude......................................|    1.556   122.3   138.8   145.7     6.4    5.0      3.9      8.3     5.1   
      Processed..................................|   19.448   143.8   141.2   142.3     1.5     .8      -.3       .2      .7   
    Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   51.934   138.9   135.5   135.4    -5.5    -.1     -1.1       .1     0     
      Nondurable goods less foods................|   35.348   139.2   134.5   134.5    -7.6    0       -1.5       .1      .1   
      Durable goods..............................|   16.585   134.3   134.0   133.6     -.2    -.3      -.1       .2     -.1   
  Capital equipment..............................|   27.063   140.0   139.6   139.6     0      0        0        -.1      .1   
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.945   140.4   140.1   140.3      .1     .1      0        -.2      .1   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   19.118   139.7   139.3   139.2     -.1    -.1      -.1      0       0     
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   127.7   125.6   125.5    -4.4    -.1      -.8      -.1     -.1   
  Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   47.159   125.9   124.6   124.8    -3.1     .2      -.4      -.2      .2   
    Materials for food manufacturing.............|    2.914   126.4   122.6   123.3     2.2     .6     -1.0       .3      .5   
    Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   14.182   128.4   124.9   125.7    -7.4     .6      -.9     -1.2      .6   
    Materials for durable manufacturing..........|    9.183   123.2   122.7   122.7    -3.1    0        -.2       .1     0     
    Components for manufacturing.................|   20.880   126.2   126.5   126.4     -.2    -.1       .1       .3     -.1   
  Materials and components for construction......|   13.125   150.3   150.3   150.3      .1    0        -.2       .2     -.1   
  Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   14.837    97.7    90.4    89.6   -18.5    -.9     -4.1      -.4     -.7   
    Manufacturing industries ....................|    6.118   101.4    96.5    95.4   -13.0   -1.1     -2.6     -1.3     -.6   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.719    95.4    86.7    86.0   -21.6    -.8     -4.9       .3     -.9   
  Containers.....................................|    3.429   152.5   152.5   152.3     -.5    -.1      0         .2     -.1   
  Supplies.......................................|   21.450   138.4   138.3   138.1     -.4    -.1      -.1       .1     -.1   
    Manufacturing industries.....................|    4.735   145.0   144.9   144.4     -.6    -.3      -.1       .1     -.3   
    Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   16.715   135.6   135.5   135.3     -.4    -.1      -.1       .1     -.1   
      Feeds......................................|    1.088    97.7    94.4    93.1    -5.3   -1.4      -.9     -1.3    -1.4   
      Other supplies.............................|   15.627   140.2   140.5   140.3     -.1    -.1      -.1       .2     0     
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000    97.6    98.1    97.6   -30.9    -.5     -9.6      3.7     -.8   
  Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   46.246   104.1    99.5   102.3    -1.9    2.8     -1.9      4.0     2.3   
  Nonfood materials..............................|   53.754    89.6    93.6    90.4   -44.0   -3.4    -14.4      3.2    -3.4   
    Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   32.086    91.5    84.3    88.6   -20.6    5.1     -8.8      2.2     5.0   
      Manufacturing 3/...........................|   31.041    83.7    76.8    80.9   -21.3    5.3     -9.2      2.3     5.2   
      Construction...............................|    1.045   180.6   178.5   178.8     -.3     .2      -.2     -1.2     -.2   
    Crude fuel 4/................................|   21.668    79.9    99.0    83.4   -61.5  -15.8    -20.4      4.8   -15.8   
      Manufacturing industries...................|    1.994    77.6    96.8    82.2   -62.0  -15.1    -19.9      4.8   -15.1   
      Nonmanufacturing industries................|   19.674    81.5   101.0    85.0   -61.5  -15.8    -20.4      4.8   -15.8   
                                                 |                                                                             
               Special groupings                 |                                                                             
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 78.996   138.8   136.3   136.2    -3.9    -.1      -.7      0       0     
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.998   128.2   126.3   126.2    -4.6    -.1      -.8      -.1     -.1   
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.002   117.5   113.9   114.0      .1     .1     -1.0      -.1     0     
Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 51.619    90.1    94.1    90.8   -44.6   -3.5    -15.0      3.4    -3.5   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished energy goods............................|5/ 13.761    90.0    81.7    81.8   -20.4     .1     -3.9       .1      .4   
Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 86.239   148.1   147.6   147.9      .7     .2      -.1       .1      .3   
Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 59.176   151.5   151.0   151.5     1.1     .3      0         .2      .3   
                                                 |                                                                             
Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 65.235   150.5   150.3   150.1      .5    -.1      0        -.1     0     
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.173   157.5   157.5   157.2      .7    -.2      0        -.1     -.1   
Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.588   176.0   176.1   176.0     1.4    -.1      0        -.2     -.1   
                                                 |                                                                             
Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 14.961    97.4    90.0    89.2   -18.5    -.9     -4.0      -.6     -.7   
Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 85.039   134.2   133.4   133.5    -1.8     .1      -.2      -.1      .1   
Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.037   135.3   134.7   134.8    -1.8     .1      -.2      0       0     
                                                 |                                                                             
Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 32.249    75.4    81.0    75.7   -54.2   -6.5    -20.5      5.6    -6.5   
Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 67.751   109.3   105.9   108.6    -3.5    2.5     -1.5      2.7     2.0   
Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 21.505   125.8   125.4   127.4    -6.9    1.6      -.3      -.5     1.5   
                                                 |                                                                             
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                               
  1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          3/  Includes crude petroleum.                  
      after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            4/  Excludes crude petroleum.                  
      after final December indexes are available.  The first-published          5/  Percent of total finished goods.           
      and final December relative importances initially appear,                 6/  Percent of total intermediate materials.   
      respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data.      7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for       
  2/  The indexes for October 2001 have been recalculated to incorporate            further processing, excluding crude        
      late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and       
      are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.                  animal fibers, oilseeds, and leaf tobacco."
                                                                                8/  Percent of total crude materials.


          
Table 2.  Producer price indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing                         
(1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)                                                                                                
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
           |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |                         
           |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted      
           |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:     
 Commodity |                                                       |                       |Feb. 2002 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   | Feb.  | Jan.  |Nov. to|Dec. to|Jan. to  
           |                                                       |2001 1/|2002 1/|2002 1/| 2001  | 2002  |  Dec. |  Jan. |  Feb.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 139.7   137.5   137.7    -2.6    0.1     -0.6     0.1     0.2   
           | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 140.0   137.3   137.6    -3.4     .2      -.7      .2      .4   
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 142.2   141.1   142.7     1.9    1.1      0        .8     1.0   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................| 101.9   107.0    92.8     1.1  -13.3     13.4    -7.2   -13.3   
01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 110.8   144.8   176.9    22.9   22.2     12.4    20.2    22.2   
01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100)..................|  77.0    89.4    74.5   -16.9  -16.7     -8.2    21.8   -10.8   
02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 189.0   188.9   189.7     2.3     .4      -.3      .1      .4   
02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................|  85.6    84.7    82.3   -10.9   -2.8      -.4      .1    -2.8   
02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 122.2   122.2   122.2      .4    0        0       0       0     
02-21-01   |   Beef and veal 2/....................................| 117.5   111.7   120.0    -4.5    7.4      2.1    -1.4     7.4   
02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 123.4   111.9   115.0     5.2    2.8     -2.0     -.6     0     
02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 123.0   116.4   115.8     4.1    -.5     -2.2     3.6     0     
02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys...................................| 101.8    96.8    94.6     2.5   -2.3     -1.0      .8      .1   
02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 181.4   183.1   202.1    -4.0   10.4     -3.6     3.2    10.1   
02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 150.5   140.9   139.8     2.9    -.8     -1.5     1.6     -.3   
02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 130.6   131.7   132.4     3.1     .5       .5      .2      .5   
02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 172.9   174.5   175.3     2.7     .5       .5      .6      .5   
02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 149.3   149.3   151.5     2.0    1.5       .1     -.4     1.0   
02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 123.7   123.3   123.3    -2.2    0         .1     -.1     0     
02-78      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 134.8   133.3   131.8     1.9   -1.1       .8      .1    -1.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 138.9   135.5   135.4    -5.5    -.1     -1.1      .1     0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 146.2   146.1   146.5     1.8     .3       .1     -.4      .1   
03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 123.3   122.6   122.4    -1.6    -.2      -.2      .2     -.2   
03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel 2/..........................| 131.9   130.7   130.8    -1.8     .1      -.5     -.5      .1   
03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 116.8   117.0   117.0      .5    0        0       0       0     
03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 122.7   122.1   122.0     -.2    -.1      -.5     -.5     -.1   
04-3       |   Footwear 2/.........................................| 145.7   146.0   146.0      .1    0        0        .2     0     
05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 118.6   113.2   112.8     -.1    -.4       .1    -1.4     -.3   
05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 134.6   131.4   127.9   -32.6   -2.7     -3.2     1.7    -1.6   
05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  77.7    62.0    65.2   -30.7    5.2     -8.3     3.4     4.5   
05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  78.3    59.0    60.3   -34.2    2.2    -13.7     4.9     2.8   
06-38      |   Pharmaceutical preparations (June 2001=100) 2/......|  99.7   100.6   101.0     (3)     .4       .3      .8      .4   
06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 131.0   131.2   131.2      .7    0        0        .2     0     
06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 138.6   138.5   138.5     -.1    0        -.2      .2     0     
07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  94.8    93.4    94.7     1.1    1.4       .1    -2.2     1.4   
09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 148.9   148.7   147.4     1.2    -.9      1.4    -1.1     -.9   
09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation 2/............................| 221.5   222.9   223.6     3.1     .3       .1      .3      .3   
09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 200.4   205.2   208.1     3.8    1.4      -.6     1.8     1.2   
09-33      |   Book publishing.....................................| 225.4   230.9   227.4     2.5   -1.5      1.2     1.5    -1.3   
12-1       |   Household furniture.................................| 155.4   156.0   156.4     1.6     .3       .1      .3      .2   
12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 130.2   130.9   128.4    -2.9   -1.9      -.3     1.7    -1.9   
12-4       |   Household appliances ...............................| 104.8   105.3   104.6    -1.6    -.7      0        .1     -.6   
12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  70.0    69.5    69.7    -2.1     .3      -.1     -.3      .3   
12-62      |   Household glassware.................................| 169.8   170.1   169.8      .8    -.2       .1     0       -.1   
12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 143.2   143.2   143.7     1.2     .3      0       0        .3   
12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 132.8   131.9   131.3    -1.1    -.5      -.8     -.1     -.5   
14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 131.4   131.9   131.0    -1.4    -.7      -.4      .7     -.2   
15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles 2/.............| 123.8   124.6   124.5     1.3    -.1       .2      .4     -.1   
15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 126.4   125.1   126.1      .2     .8      0       1.0      .8   
15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 447.5   447.9   448.1     5.0    0        0      -1.7     0     
15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 166.1   165.9   165.8     2.2    -.1       .1     -.3     -.1   
15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 130.0   130.0   130.1     2.4     .1      -.1      .3      .1   
15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 144.0   144.0   144.0     -.1    0        0       0       0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 140.0   139.6   139.6     0      0        0       -.1      .1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 157.3   156.5   156.6     1.2     .1      -.1      .1      .1   
11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 149.3   149.0   149.2      .2     .1      -.4     0        .1   
11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 154.4   153.8   153.9    -5.4     .1      -.5     -.1      .1   
11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 165.6   165.6   167.0     2.2     .8       .2     0        .8   
11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 141.2   141.0   140.6    -1.1    -.3      0       -.1     -.3   
11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 158.6   159.8   160.1     2.7     .2       .1      .3      .3   
11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 137.1   137.4   137.4     1.0    0         .1     0       0     
11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1998=100) 2/.............|  50.3    48.3    46.3   -28.4   -4.1     -3.1     1.5    -4.1   
11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 158.1   159.8   157.1      .1   -1.7      1.1     0      -1.7   
11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 167.6   167.8   167.7     1.2    -.1       .1      .1     -.1   
11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 143.0   143.0   142.7     -.6    -.2      0       -.2     -.2   
11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 134.0   133.3   133.3    -1.3    0        -.2      .2     0     
11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 109.1   109.0   109.5     -.7     .5       .2     0        .5   
11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 100.3   100.7    99.6     -.2   -1.1       .7     -.1    -1.1   
11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery ..................| 135.3   135.5   135.5     1.6    0         .1     -.9     -.1   
11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 149.1   150.2   151.1     2.4     .6       .5      .2      .6   
11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.9   112.9   112.8      .4    -.1       .5     -.2     -.1   
12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 160.6   160.5   160.3      .4    -.1      -.2      .1     -.1   
14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 158.5   153.3   153.5     -.7     .1      -.6     -.6      .6   
14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks 2/...............................| 148.4   149.6   150.3     2.7     .5       .4     0        .5   
14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 138.9   138.1   138.1     -.6    0        -.7      .1     0     
14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 170.4   169.8   169.6     2.1    -.1       .2     -.4     0     
14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 148.9   148.8   150.1     1.0     .9       .2     0        .9   
14-4       |   Railroad equipment 2/...............................| 134.6   134.1   134.4    -1.1     .2      -.1     -.3      .2   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 127.7   125.6   125.5    -4.4    -.1      -.8     -.1     -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 117.5   113.9   114.0      .1     .1     -1.0     -.1     0     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 112.7   113.5   113.5     5.5    0       -1.4     3.5     0     
02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 111.1   115.9   115.9     5.5    0        2.9     2.0     0     
02-54      |   Confectionery materials 2/..........................| 106.7   113.8   112.7     6.7   -1.0       .6     1.8    -1.0   
02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................|  71.2    75.2    70.1    18.6   -6.8      0       1.9    -6.8   
02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 105.5   102.6   101.4    -4.8   -1.2      -.9    -1.0    -1.2   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 128.2   126.3   126.2    -4.6    -.1      -.8     -.1     -.1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 107.3   106.2   106.0    -4.8    -.2      -.5     -.5     -.2   
03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 103.4   102.5   102.2    -5.5    -.3      0       0       -.3   
03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 113.0   112.4   110.1    -4.3   -2.0       .3     -.2    -2.0   
03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 122.6   120.7   120.4    -1.1    -.2      -.5     -.7     -.2   
03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 133.2   133.8   133.3     1.6    -.4       .2     0       -.4   
04-2       |   Leather 2/..........................................| 199.1   193.8   197.4     1.3    1.9      -.5     1.5     1.9   
05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................|  90.8    81.0    82.4   -52.6    1.7    -19.3     9.0     1.7   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
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 |                                                       |                       |Feb. 2002 from:|                         
   code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________ 
           |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |         
           |                                                       |Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   | Feb.  | Jan.  |Nov. to|Dec. to|Jan. to  
           |                                                       |2001 1/|2002 1/|2002 1/| 2001  | 2002  |  Dec. |  Jan. |  Feb.   
___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________ 
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |                                                                 
           |   -Continued..........................................|                                                                 
05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 139.3   134.3   133.5    -0.1   -0.6     -0.4    -0.7    -0.6   
05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 143.8   139.7   139.1     2.0    -.4      -.1     -.6     -.2   
05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 136.0   134.0   130.7   -38.6   -2.5     -4.7     0      -1.5   
05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 134.1   136.6   132.0   -44.6   -3.4     -4.0     2.7    -2.3   
05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...|  69.1    75.6    71.8   -69.9   -5.0     -4.8     -.9    -5.2   
05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  68.8    61.3    57.6   -33.3   -6.0     -9.3    12.2    -7.3   
05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  75.9    59.2    59.8   -35.3    1.0    -17.8     7.2    -1.1   
05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  68.6    57.6    57.6   -27.5    0       -7.6    -9.1     0     
06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 123.8   118.6   120.6   -10.5    1.7     -1.7    -1.2     1.7   
06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 164.1   166.4   166.3     1.3    -.1       .1      .7     -.6   
06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 147.8   149.5   156.2     2.7    4.5      -.9     1.2     4.5   
06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 140.1   131.3   131.2    -9.1    -.1      -.2    -6.1     -.1   
06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible.............................|  80.6    74.2    74.1     6.9    -.1      9.2   -10.4     9.7   
06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 115.0   112.9   111.8    -4.6   -1.0      0      -2.3    -1.3   
06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 111.8   104.7   102.2   -44.9   -2.4     -5.2    -4.0    -5.2   
06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................|  94.4    96.4    97.8      .8    1.5     -5.7     6.8     1.5   
06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals 2/.....................| 148.1   148.8   148.3      .3    -.3     -1.3      .1     -.3   
06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 128.3   120.1   123.5   -11.3    2.8     -2.8    -4.1     2.8   
07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 120.0   119.2   118.2    -4.4    -.8      -.3     -.4     -.8   
07-21      |   Plastic construction products ......................| 130.5   131.2   130.4    -2.2    -.6       .4      .2    -1.0   
07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes 2/..| 135.7   135.4   133.8    -3.9   -1.2      0        .4    -1.2   
07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 116.7   117.0   116.6     -.6    -.3       .3      .2     -.3   
08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 165.0   171.4   173.4     6.0    1.2     -2.2     6.9     1.2   
08-12      |   Hardwood lumber ....................................| 178.8   177.4   176.0    -4.9    -.8      -.8      .6     -.8   
08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 180.2   178.9   179.2     1.2     .2      -.1     -.2      .2   
08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 151.6   148.4   153.5     5.4    3.4     -1.5      .2     3.4   
09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 112.8   114.4   116.6   -18.5    1.9       .2     1.7     1.9   
09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 148.4   146.0   144.6    -4.9   -1.0      0       -.6    -1.0   
09-14      |   Paperboard 2/.......................................| 167.1   165.1   163.9    -7.2    -.7       .4    -1.0     -.7   
09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 174.6   173.9   173.1    -1.4    -.5      0       -.1     -.5   
09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 126.7   124.5   126.6      .2    1.7      2.6     -.8     1.7   
09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 157.4   157.0   156.9     -.2    -.1      -.3     0       -.1   
10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 136.8   136.8   136.9     -.1     .1      -.1     -.3     -.1   
10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 100.0    98.2    97.9    -4.7    -.3      -.9     -.6     -.3   
10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................|  98.1   102.0   101.6    -9.9    -.4      1.9     2.4     -.4   
10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 145.9   145.2   145.3    -3.6     .1      -.1      .1      .1   
10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 149.1   150.6   150.7    -7.6     .1      -.3     -.1      .1   
10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 137.9   138.0   135.9    -4.8   -1.5       .4     -.6    -1.5   
10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 106.1   106.9   108.9     3.1    1.9       .3      .6     1.9   
10-4       |   Hardware 2/.........................................| 155.5   156.5   156.2     2.2    -.2       .3      .5     -.2   
10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 180.7   179.9   181.9     -.4    1.1      -.1     -.3      .3   
10-6       |   Heating equipment 2/................................| 157.1   157.2   157.4     -.3     .1       .2     -.3      .1   
10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 144.3   144.0   144.0     -.7    0         .1     -.3     0     
10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 129.4   128.8   128.9    -1.0     .1       .3     -.7      .1   
10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 127.0   126.8   126.9      .1     .1      0       -.2      .1   
11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 167.2   169.1   169.3     1.6     .1       .2     0        .1   
11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment 2/.....| 136.0   136.2   136.7      .9     .4       .1      .1      .4   
11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 165.3   165.9   166.3     1.7     .2      -.2      .7      .2   
11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 169.3   169.3   170.0     -.4     .4      0       -.3      .4   
11-71      |   Wiring devices 2/...................................| 153.3   152.0   152.9     -.7     .6      -.8      .1      .6   
11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 146.4   146.5   146.7      .1     .1      0       -.1      .1   
11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 157.8   157.7   158.5     1.9     .5      -.1      .3      .2   
11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............|  92.4    94.2    93.8    -1.6    -.4       .5     1.1     -.4   
11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 144.0   144.2   144.2      .3    0        0       0        .1   
11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 140.4   140.6   139.6     -.2    -.7      0        .1     -.7   
13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 112.1   111.0   111.2     -.4     .2      -.6     -.4      .2   
13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 150.9   150.4   150.1      .5    -.2       .3     -.3      .1   
13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 152.8   153.4   153.5     1.9     .1       .3      .1     -.1   
13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings..........................| 110.3   110.5   110.1     5.4    -.4       .2      .5     0     
13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 161.5   164.0   167.0      .4    1.8     -3.3    -1.4     1.8   
13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 133.1   135.3   134.8     3.0    -.4       .2     1.7     -.4   
14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 113.2   112.9   113.2     -.3     .3      -.1      .4      .3   
14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 145.4   145.4   146.6     1.7     .8       .2    -1.2      .8   
14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100).....| 151.5   150.4   150.4     1.6    0         .2     1.3     0     
15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 129.3   130.1   130.0     3.2    -.1      0        .6     -.1   
15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices 2/............| 149.1   150.1   150.2     1.6     .1       .3      .3      .1   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................|  97.6    98.1    97.6   -30.9    -.5     -9.6     3.7     -.8   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 104.1    99.5   102.3    -1.9    2.8     -1.9     4.0     2.3   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................|  82.8    86.7    84.9     -.2   -2.1      -.3     1.2    -2.1   
01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................|  75.8    80.2    79.2     2.6   -1.2      1.9    -4.5     -.4   
01-31      |   Slaughter cattle 2/.................................| 101.8    98.9   108.4    -6.3    9.6       .2     4.3     9.6   
01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  69.4    63.1    62.3    -2.5   -1.3    -11.1    26.4    -6.8   
01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 143.8   132.9   127.9    -2.9   -3.8     -4.4     5.6     -.1   
01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................| 121.8   100.4    96.0    -4.8   -4.4     -1.3    10.4    -3.2   
01-6       |   Fluid milk 2/.......................................| 117.5    99.5   100.1     2.7     .6     -4.7    -2.1      .6   
01-83-01-31|   Soybeans 2/.........................................|  75.3    74.5    73.8    -1.6    -.9     -1.5     1.2     -.9   
02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 110.6   111.7   109.4    -2.2   -2.1      1.6    -1.0    -2.1   
                                                                                                                                     
           |                                                       |                                                                 
           |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................|  89.6    93.6    90.4   -44.0   -3.4    -14.4     3.2    -3.4   
           |                                                       |                                                                 
01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton 2/.......................................|  47.5    54.4    55.9   -40.1    2.8       .7      .2     2.8   
01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 112.0   113.8   111.1    -8.5   -2.4     -1.0    -1.2    -2.4   
04-19      |   Hides and skins (June 2001=100) 2/..................|  72.6    71.4    71.3     (3)    -.1     -5.0     -.6     -.1   
05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  97.2    99.2    97.6     2.1   -1.6     -5.5     3.2    -1.6   
05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................|  72.9    98.0    77.7   -70.4  -20.7    -24.7     4.9   -20.7   
05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  56.9    46.6    52.8   -34.6   13.3    -21.6     8.1    13.3   
08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc...................................| 179.7   174.6   175.0    -3.8     .2       .1    -3.5     -.5   
09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 141.9   142.0   140.0   -18.4   -1.4      0        .1    -1.4   
10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  96.3    95.0    95.0     -.6    0        0      -1.3     0     
10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap................................| 118.5   115.2   119.9      .8    4.1     -4.6      .7     5.2   
10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  62.3    62.5    67.1     2.3    7.4      -.5     4.9     7.4   
10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 106.5   106.1   107.5   -12.6    1.3      -.1     1.0     1.3   
10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 145.3   148.5   151.7    -9.6    2.2      1.4      .7     -.7   
13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 169.7   170.6   171.4     2.5     .5       .2     -.2      .4   
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                                                     
1/  The indexes for October 2001 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                    | Oct. 2001 | Jan. 2002 | Feb. 2002 |
_________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   392.0   |   385.8   |   386.5   |
         | All commodities................................|   130.3   |   128.5   |   128.6   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   126.2   |   123.9   |   125.4   |
01       |   Farm products................................|   101.2   |    99.7   |   102.0   |
02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   138.5   |   135.8   |   136.9   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities.........................|   131.1   |   129.4   |   129.2   |
03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   120.9   |   120.1   |   119.7   |
04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   153.8   |   152.4   |   153.5   |
05       |   Fuels and related products and power.........|    89.2   |    84.0   |    82.9   |
06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   149.1   |   146.3   |   147.8   |
07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   126.6   |   126.8   |   125.5   |
08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   172.3   |   172.1   |   172.9   |
09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   183.9   |   184.9   |   184.6   |
10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   124.1   |   123.7   |   123.9   |
11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   123.3   |   123.6   |   123.5   |
12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   133.2   |   133.4   |   133.0   |
13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   145.2   |   145.6   |   145.5   |
14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   146.0   |   145.2   |   145.3   |
15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   182.9   |   182.4   |   182.4   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
         |   products and power...........................|   142.6   |   142.2   |   142.2   |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
         |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
         |                                                |           |           |           |
01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
         |   and tree nuts................................|   111.5   |   127.7   |   133.5   |
01-2     | Grains.........................................|    78.5   |    82.2   |    81.0   |
01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    93.5   |    89.7   |    96.4   |
01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   137.2   |   124.7   |   119.9   |
01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|    48.3   |    54.9   |    56.6   |
01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|    86.5   |   100.0   |    85.0   |
01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   106.0   |   103.6   |   102.7   |
01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|    86.7   |    86.3   |    85.7   |
01-9     | Other farm products............................|   167.0   |   169.6   |   165.7   |
02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   163.3   |   163.4   |   163.6   |
02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   125.7   |   119.7   |   124.1   |
02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   121.0   |   116.4   |   115.5   |
02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   137.2   |   140.6   |   140.6   |
02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   146.7   |   146.7   |   147.8   |
02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   124.4   |   124.2   |   124.1   |
02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   107.9   |   108.2   |   105.9   |
03-81    | Apparel........................................|   126.5   |   125.8   |   125.8   |
04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   148.0   |   147.8   |   148.3   |
05-3     | Gas fuels......................................|    76.5   |    92.4   |    78.2   |
05-4     | Electric power.................................|   140.1   |   134.7   |   134.1   |
05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    75.6   |    61.3   |    62.8   |
06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   261.9   |   261.6   |   263.2   |
06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   123.4   |   122.4   |   122.1   |
06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   139.8   |   139.8   |   139.8   |
07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   116.6   |   116.1   |   116.4   |
07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   119.3   |   118.6   |   117.5   |
07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   139.9   |   140.5   |   140.4   |
07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   134.5   |   135.0   |   133.0   |
08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   167.3   |   170.7   |   171.4   |
09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
         |   paper and board..............................|   155.6   |   154.7   |   153.8   |
09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   164.5   |   164.2   |   163.3   |
10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   108.6   |   107.0   |   107.2   |
10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   119.6   |   119.8   |   120.2   |
10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   138.6   |   138.1   |   138.1   |
11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   150.5   |   150.3   |   150.3   |
11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   153.1   |   153.6   |   153.9   |
11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   164.8   |   164.2   |   164.7   |
11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   116.7   |   117.4   |   117.4   |
11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   136.2   |   136.3   |   135.9   |
12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   157.5   |   157.3   |   157.0   |
13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   159.9   |   160.3   |   160.6   |
14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   132.0   |   131.0   |   131.0   |
15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   133.5   |   133.3   |   134.0   |
15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   111.8   |   112.3   |   111.6   |
15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   139.1   |   139.2   |   139.3   |
__________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
                                                                                               
1/  Data for October 2001 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and    
    corrections by respondents.  All data are subject to revision 4 months after original      
    publication.                                                                               
                                                                                               
2/  Prices of some items in this grouping are lagged 1 month.


                                  

Table 4.  Producer price indexes for the net output of major industry groups, not seasonally adjusted             
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                  |                                              |     |         Index         |  Percent change  
  Industry        |                Industry 1/                   |Index|_______________________|to_Feb._2002_from:
    code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |         
                  |                                              |     |Oct.   |Jan.   |Feb.   |  Feb.  |  Jan.   
                  |                                              |     |2001 2/|2002 2/|2002 2/|  2001  |  2002   
__________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|_________
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total mining industries...................... |12/84|  78.3    81.6    77.9    -47.9     -4.5  
       10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  69.8    69.7    73.8      2.6      5.9  
       12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  92.9    94.6    91.8      1.9     -3.0  
       13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85|  79.1    84.0    78.0    -55.4     -7.1  
       14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |                                          
                  |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 141.8   142.3   143.0      2.2       .5  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 133.7   131.7   132.0     -2.1       .2  
       20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 134.1   131.5   132.2      1.1       .5  
       21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 391.1   391.7   391.8      5.2    0      
       22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 116.5   116.5   115.2     -2.0     -1.1  
       23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |                                          
                  |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 125.9   125.3   125.3      -.4    0      
       24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 154.6   154.3   154.9       .7       .4  
       25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 145.5   145.6   145.8      1.0       .1  
       26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 145.1   144.2   143.4     -2.4      -.6  
       27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 189.4   192.0   192.3      2.6       .2  
       28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 155.7   153.6   154.5     -4.3       .6  
       29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  94.6    77.9    79.6    -28.7      2.2  
       30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 125.5   125.6   124.5     -1.0      -.9  
       31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 141.2   140.3   140.8       .3       .4  
       32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 136.6   136.9   136.8       .9      -.1  
       33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 114.6   113.7   113.5     -3.6      -.2  
       34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |                                          
                  |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 131.0   131.1   131.3       .5       .2  
       35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 117.9   117.8   117.4      -.4      -.3  
       36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |                                          
                  |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 106.4   107.2   107.1      -.5      -.1  
       37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 138.5   137.7   137.8       .1       .1  
       38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |                                          
                  |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |                                          
                  |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 127.6   128.2   128.4      1.3       .2  
       39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 132.7   132.5   132.9       .7       .3  
                  |                                              |     |                                          
                  |Services industries                           |     |                                          
       40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96| 105.8   107.4   106.6      2.7     -0.7  
       42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 123.6   123.4   123.3       .7      -.1  
       43         | United States Postal Service................ |06/89| 145.4   145.4   145.4      2.9    0      
       44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 133.5   129.6   129.5      2.0      -.1  
       45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 158.9   158.0   159.0      2.5       .6  
       46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86| 111.8   111.2   111.3      2.0       .1  
       54         | Food stores................................. |12/99| 115.3   114.6   112.2      5.0     -2.1  
       59         | Miscellaneous retail........................ |06/00| 100.1    99.8   101.7       .7      1.9  
       80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 117.3   118.0   117.8      1.9      -.2  
       81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 118.6   119.7   120.4      2.7       .6  
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1/ Indexes in this table are derived from the net-output-weighted industry price indexes.  Because of differences 
   in coverage and aggregation methodology, they will generally not match the movements of similarly-titled       
   indexes which are derived from traditional commodity groupings.                                                
2/ The indexes for October 2001 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.
   All indexes are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.


                                       
Table 5.  Producer price indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |
                                                       |                      Index 1/   
                                                       |_____________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |        |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |  Sep.  |  Oct.  |  Nov.  |  Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb.  
                                                       |  2001  |  2001  |  2001  |  2001  |  2002  |  2002  
_______________________________________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
                                                       |                                                     
      Finished goods...................................|  141.1    139.2    138.4    137.6    137.8    138.1
        Finished consumer goods........................|  141.8    139.6    138.5    137.5    137.8    138.3
          Finished consumer foods......................|  142.2    142.1    140.7    140.7    141.8    143.2
            Crude......................................|  126.4    121.2    122.8    127.6    138.2    145.3
            Processed..................................|  143.4    143.8    142.1    141.7    142.0    143.0
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|  141.5    138.4    137.4    135.9    136.0    136.0
            Nondurable goods less foods................|  142.7    138.9    137.4    135.4    135.5    135.6
            Durable goods..............................|  134.6    133.2    133.4    133.2    133.5    133.3
        Capital equipment..............................|  140.1    139.5    139.4    139.4    139.3    139.4
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  140.6    140.3    140.3    140.3    140.0    140.2
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  139.9    139.1    139.1    139.0    139.0    139.0
                                                       |  
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  129.3    127.6    126.8    125.8    125.7    125.6
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|  126.7    126.0    125.3    124.8    124.6    124.8
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|  126.7    126.3    124.2    122.9    123.3    123.9
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|  129.7    128.5    127.6    126.4    124.9    125.6
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|  124.4    123.3    122.8    122.6    122.7    122.7
          Components for manufacturing.................|  126.3    126.3    126.0    126.1    126.5    126.4
        Materials and components for construction......|  150.9    150.3    150.4    150.1    150.4    150.3
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|  103.8     97.3     95.1     91.2     90.8     90.2
          Manufacturing industries ....................|  104.9    101.3     99.9     97.3     96.0     95.4
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  102.8     94.7     92.0     87.5     87.8     87.0
        Containers.....................................|  152.9    152.5    152.2    152.2    152.5    152.3
        Supplies.......................................|  138.7    138.5    138.3    138.2    138.3    138.1
          Manufacturing industries.....................|  145.2    145.0    144.9    144.8    144.9    144.5
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|  135.9    135.6    135.5    135.3    135.5    135.3
            Feeds......................................|   98.5     97.7     96.5     95.6     94.4     93.1
            Other supplies.............................|  140.5    140.3    140.2    140.1    140.4    140.4
                                                       |  
      Crude materials for further processing...........|  107.6     98.1    105.6     95.5     99.0     98.2
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|  108.8    105.0     99.7     97.8    101.7    104.0
        Nonfood materials..............................|  102.9     89.9    105.9     90.6     93.5     90.3
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|  103.2     91.9     90.4     82.4     84.2     88.4
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   94.7     84.1     82.6     75.0     76.7     80.7
            Construction...............................|  183.5    181.8    180.7    180.4    178.2    177.9
          Crude fuel 3/................................|   94.3     79.9    118.7     94.5     99.0     83.4
            Manufacturing industries...................|   92.4     77.6    115.3     92.4     96.8     82.2
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|   96.2     81.5    121.1     96.4    101.0     85.0
                                                       |
                     Special groupings                 |
                                                       |
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|  140.6    138.3    137.6    136.6    136.6    136.6
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|  129.9    128.2    127.5    126.5    126.4    126.3
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|  118.0    117.5    115.7    114.5    114.4    114.4
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|  103.8     90.4    106.9     90.9     94.0     90.7
                                                       |
      Finished energy goods............................|   95.8     89.4     86.5     83.1     83.2     83.5
      Finished goods less energy.......................|  148.2    147.7    147.5    147.4    147.6    148.0
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|  151.6    151.2    150.8    150.8    151.1    151.6
                                                       |
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|  150.6    150.0    150.1    150.1    150.0    150.0
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|  157.6    157.0    157.3    157.3    157.2    157.0
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|  175.9    176.0    176.4    176.4    176.1    175.9
                                                       |
      Intermediate energy goods........................|  103.4     97.0     94.7     90.9     90.4     89.8
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|  134.8    134.2    133.8    133.5    133.4    133.5
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|  135.9    135.3    135.0    134.7    134.7    134.7
                                                       |
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   91.8     75.4     96.5     76.7     81.0     75.7
      Crude materials less energy......................|  113.6    110.3    106.3    104.7    107.5    109.6
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|  128.7    126.8    126.1    125.7    125.1    127.0
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 October 2001 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
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
Life Insurance Carriers              6311     January 1999	
Property and Casualty Insurance      6331     July 1998	
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.