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FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:         TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
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MEDIA CONTACT:  (202) 606-5902     UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (E.D.T), FRIDAY,
http://stats.bls.gov/ppihome.htm   JUNE 13, 1997
                                     
                     Producer Price Indexes - May 1997
     
     The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods fell 0.3 percent in May,
seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U. S. Department
of Labor reported today.  This was the fifth consecutive monthly decline.
The index for finished goods decreased 0.6 percent in April and 0.1 percent
in March.  Prices received by domestic producers of intermediate goods
moved down 0.2 percent in May after declining 0.3 percent in the previous
month.  The Crude Goods Price Index increased 1.3 percent in May following
a 0.9-percent decrease in April.  (See table A.)

     Prices for finished goods other than foods and energy fell 0.3 percent
after dropping 0.1 percent in April.  The index for finished energy goods
fell less than in April.  Prices for finished consumer foods turned up
after declining in the previous month.
     
Table A.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected stage-of-
processing price
 indexes, seasonally adjusted
                     Finish                                  
                         ed
                      goods
                                                             
                                     Change in            
                            Except   finished   Inter-    
                                       goods
                             foods    from 12   mediateCrude
                              and     months
Month  Total  Foods  Energy energy      ago      goods goods
                                     (unadj.)
 1996                                                     
 May      0.2    0.2   -0.6     0.2         2.3    0.4    1.1
 June     0.3    1.4   -0.8     0.1         2.7   -0.3   -2.4
 July       0    0.1    0.4       0         2.6   -0.2    2.2
 Aug.     0.3    0.7    0.6     0.1         3.0    0.2    0.6
Sept.     0.3    0.4    0.7     0.1         3.0    0.4   -2.6
 Oct.     0.4    0.8    1.7    -0.1         3.1   -0.2   -0.7
 Nov.     0.2      0    0.9       0         3.0   -0.2    2.7
 Dec.     0.5   -0.2    3.3     0.1         2.8    0.5    6.2
                                                             
 1997                                                        
 Jan.    -0.3   -1.0  r-0.2      r0         2.5    0.2   r3.8
 Feb.    -0.4  r-0.4  r-1.0   r-0.2         2.2     r0  r-6.7
 Mar.    -0.1    0.9   -3.4     0.4         1.6   -0.6   -6.9
 Apr.    -0.6   -0.4   -2.6    -0.1         0.8   -0.3   -0.9
 May     -0.3    0.4   -2.1    -0.3         0.3   -0.2    1.3
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously
reported because data for January 1997 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 edged down 0.1 percent to 131.5 (1982=100).  From May 1996 to May
1997, the Finished Goods Price Index rose 0.3 percent.  Over the same
period, prices for finished consumer foods increased 2.7 percent, the index
for finished energy goods declined 3.1 percent, and prices for finished
goods other than foods and energy were up 0.1 percent.  Prices received by
domestic producers of intermediate goods decreased 0.7 percent for the 12
months ended in May, and the index for crude goods fell 4.6 percent during
this same period.

Finished Goods

     The Producer Price Index for finished consumer foods increased 0.4
percent in May following a 0.4-percent decline in April.  Prices for
finfish and shellfish rose 7.9 percent in May after falling 5.0 percent
during the prior month.  Prices for fresh and dry vegetables, fresh fruits
and melons, and beef and veal also turned up after falling in the previous
month.  The index for eggs for fresh use declined less than in April.  By
contrast, the index for pork increased 3.2 percent following a gain of 5.6
percent in April.  Prices for dairy products, processed young chickens, and
for processed fruits and vegetables fell more than in the prior month.  The
index for soft drinks turned down after increasing in April.

Table B.  Monthly and annual percent changes in selected price indexes for
intermediate
goods and crude goods, seasonally adjusted
              Interm                           Crude           
              ediate                           goods
              goods
                            Change in                        Change in
                            intermedi                          crude
                               ate
                     Exclud   goods                  Excludi   goods
                      ing      from                    ng
                     foods  12 months         Energy  foods   from 12
                      and      ago                     and   months ago
Month  Foods  Energy energy  (unadj.)   Foods (unadj energy   (unadj.)
                                                .)
 1996                                                             
 May      3.8    0.6    0.1        0.7    5.8   -4.6    0.7     12.7
 June     0.7   -2.4      0        0.3    0.7   -6.8   -1.8     9.6
 July     0.4      0   -0.3       -0.1    1.7    5.4   -1.6     13.2
 Aug.     0.3    0.8    0.1        0.1   -0.6    2.4    0.5     15.4
Sept.     0.8    1.1    0.2        0.6   -3.5   -3.3    0.5     10.1
 Oct.    -2.0    1.3   -0.2        0.5   -3.1    2.1   -0.1     9.4
 Nov.    -3.2   -0.2    0.1        0.5   -2.5   11.1   -0.2     10.6
 Dec.    -0.6    2.9    0.1        0.7   -2.7   19.3      0     14.7
                                                                  
 1997                                                             
 Jan.   r-0.5   r0.6    0.1       r0.9  r-1.2   r8.9   r2.3    r16.1
 Feb.    r0.5  r-0.5   r0.1        1.2  r-1.6 r-14.0   r0.7     6.3
 Mar.     1.4   -4.6      0        0.6    2.1  -19.2    0.6     0.3
 Apr.     0.4   -2.0      0       -0.1    3.3   -5.2   -2.3     -4.8
 May      0.5   -1.9      0       -0.7   -0.3    3.4    1.2     -4.6
r=revised.  Some of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this release
may differ from those previously reported because
data for January 1997 have been revised to reflect the availability of late
reports and corrections by respondents.
                                    -3-
     The index for capital equipment declined 0.2 percent in May following
a 0.4-percent decrease in April.  The indexes for light motor trucks, heavy
motor trucks, and electronic computers fell in May by more than in the
previous month.  Prices for x-ray equipment were unchanged after rising in
April.  By contrast, prices for civilian aircraft increased 0.4 percent
following a 2.0-percent decline a month earlier.  The indexes for railroad
equipment, tools and dies, and textile machinery also turned up after
falling a month ago.  Prices for commercial furniture rose 0.2 percent
after increasing 0.5 percent in the prior month.

     The index for finished consumer goods excluding foods and energy moved
down 0.3 percent in May after showing no change in April.  Prices for
passenger cars decreased 1.6 percent after declining 0.5 percent in the
prior month.  The index for sanitary papers also fell more than a month
ago.  Prices for periodical circulation, soaps and detergents, alcoholic
beverages, newspaper circulation, tires and tubes, and mobile homes turned
down following increases in the prior month.  The index for tobacco
products rose less than in April.  By contrast, prices for prescription
drugs rose 0.4 percent following a 0.7 percent decline a month ago.  The
indexes for women's apparel, men's and boys' apparel, household appliances,
and floor coverings also turned up after decreasing in April.  Prices for
sporting goods rose less than in the prior month.
     
     The index for finished energy goods declined 2.1 percent in May
following a 2.6-percent decline in April.  Prices for residential natural
gas decreased 1.3 percent in May after falling 3.3 percent in the prior
month.  The index for finished lubricants turned up 1.8 percent after
decreasing 3.7 percent in the previous month.  Prices for residential
electric power showed no change after declining in April.  Home heating oil
prices rose 2.2 percent in May following a 1.4-percent advance in the prior
month.  Gasoline prices, however, fell 7.1 percent after declining 4.1
percent a month ago.
     
Intermediate goods

     The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and
Components declined 0.2 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, after
declining 0.3 percent in April.  Price decreases for intermediate energy
goods outweighed increases for construction materials, nondurable
manufacturing materials, intermediate foods and feeds, and durable
manufacturing materials.     Excluding food and energy, the intermediate
materials index showed no change for the third consecutive month.  (See
table B.)
     
     The index for intermediate energy materials declined 1.9 percent in
May following a 2.0-percent decline in April.  Price decreases for
gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, commercial and industrial electric
power, jet fuels, and No. 2 diesel fuel more than offset price increases
for residual fuel, natural gas to electric utilities, and commercial
natural gas.
     
     The index for durable manufacturing materials advanced 0.2 percent in
May following a 0.1-percent decline in April.  Prices for copper cathode
and refined copper increased 5.1 percent after a 6.7-percent decrease a
month ago.  The indexes for copper and brass mill shapes, refined gold, and
refined silver bar also turned up after falling a month earlier.  Prices
for plywood fell less than in the previous month.  The index for hot rolled
sheet and strip was unchanged after turning down last month.  By contrast,
the index for hot rolled bars, plates, and structural shapes declined 1.1
percent following a 0.6-percent advance in April.  Prices for aluminum mill
shapes, cement, and cold finished bars also fell after rising a month ago.
     
     The index for intermediate foods and feeds advanced 0.5 percent in May
following a 0.4- percent advance in April.  Price increases for prepared
animal feeds, pork, beef and veal, crude vegetable oils, and liquid milk
products outweighed price decreases for dry milk products, fluid milk
products, refined sugar, and for natural, processed, and imitation cheese.
                                    -4-
     The index for nondurable manufacturing materials advanced 0.2 percent
in May following a 0.2-percent decline in April.  Prices for paperboard
increased 1.2 percent after a 2.7-percent decrease a month earlier.  The
indexes for inedible fats and oils, alkalies and chlorine, woodpulp, and
paint materials also turned up after moving down in the previous month.
Prices for primary basic organic chemicals fell less than in the prior
month.  By contrast, prices for paper advanced 0.6 percent following a 1.2-
percent advance in April.  The indexes for nitrogenates and leather fell
after rising a month ago.  Prices for medicinal and botanical chemicals
rose less than in the prior month.
     
     The index for construction materials advanced 0.4 percent following a
0.3-percent gain in April.  Price increases for fabricated structural metal
products, softwood lumber, plastic construction products, gypsum products,
millwork, nonferrous wire and cable, and wiring devices more than offset
decreases for plywood, cement, and metal valves (except fluid power).
     
Crude Goods

     The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing
increased 1.3 percent, seasonally adjusted, following a 0.9-percent decline
in April.  The indexes for energy materials and basic industrial materials
also turned up after falling last month.  By contrast, the index for
foodstuffs and feedstuffs turned down after rising a month earlier.  (See
table B.)

     The index for crude energy materials rose 3.4 percent following a 5.2-
percent decline in April.  Prices for natural gas increased 5.8 percent
after declining 13.3 percent in the prior month.  The index for crude
petroleum also turned up after falling a month ago.  By contrast, prices
for coal turned down 6.4 percent after rising 5.2 percent in April.
     
     The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs declined 0.3 percent
following a 3.3-percent advance in April.  Prices for slaughter broilers
and fryers fell 10.3 percent after increasing 13.5 percent a month ago.
The index for wheat also turned down after rising in the previous month.
Prices for slaughter hogs and slaughter cattle increased less than a month
ago.  By contrast, the index for soybeans rose 5.1 percent after falling
3.5 percent in the prior month.  Prices for unprocessed finfish, fresh
fruits and melons, and fresh and dry vegetables also turned up after
falling in April.
     
     The index for crude nonfood materials less energy increased 1.2
percent following a 2.3-percent decline in April.  Prices for iron and
steel scrap increased 2.7 percent after declining 3.2 percent a month ago.
The indexes for nonferrous metal ores, copper ores, raw cotton, copper base
scrap, and for softwood logs, bolts and timber also turned up after falling
in the prior month.  By contrast, the index for iron ore declined 4.5
percent after showing no change in April.  Prices for phosphates also
declined after showing no change in the previous month.  The index for
cattle hides turned down after rising a month ago.
     
Net output price indexes for mining, manufacturing, and other industries

Mining.  The Producer Price Index for the net output of total domestic
mining industries rose 2.3 percent in May, following a 4.7-percent decline
in April.  (Net output price indexes are not seasonally adjusted.)  In May,
prices for the oil and gas extraction industry group turned up 4.0 percent
after falling 6.6 percent in the previous month.  The index for the metal
mining industry group also rose (0.3 percent) in May after decreasing (3.8
percent) in April.  By contrast, prices for the coal mining industry group
turned down 3.9 percent after increasing 3.4 percent in the prior month.
The index for the nonmetallic minerals mining industry group rose 0.1
percent after increasing 0.2 percent in April.  In May, the Producer Price
Index for total mining industries stood at 81.2 (December 1984=100), 2.1
percent lower than a year earlier.
                                    -5-
Manufacturing.  As in April, the Producer Price Index for total domestic
manufacturing industries decreased 0.1 percent.  Price declines for the
industry groups for leather and leather products (0.7 percent),
transportation equipment (0.6 percent), and for electrical and electronic
machinery (0.3 percent) offset price increases for food and kindred
products (0.4 percent), lumber and wood products (0.4 percent), and tobacco
manufactures (0.4 percent).  In May, the index for the net output of the
domestic manufacturing sector stood at 127.6 (December 1984=100), 0.2
percent above its level a year ago.

Other.  Among other industries in May, the index for freight transportation
arrangement dropped 3.1 percent following an increase of 2.2 percent in
April.  Prices also turned down after rising a month earlier for
nonscheduled air transportation, operators and lessors of nonresidential
buildings, psychiatric hospitals, specialty hospitals (except psychiatric),
for general warehousing and storage, for non-local trucking, and for line-
haul operating railroads.  The index for tugging and towing services
increased 0.1 percent after rising 1.0 percent in the prior month.  Prices
also increased more slowly for local trucking without storage.  The index
for scheduled air transportation showed no change in May after rising 0.7
percent in April.  Prices for offices and clinics of doctors of medicine,
refrigerated warehousing and storage, and for engineering design, analysis,
and consulting services also showed no change after increasing in the
previous month.  The index for hotels and motels fell 0.6 percent after
declining 0.1 percent a month ago.  The indexes for general medical and
surgical hospitals and for medical laboratories both decreased 0.1 percent
after showing no change in April.

     By contrast, prices for deep sea foreign transportation of freight
turned up 3.9 percent following a decline of 3.2 percent a month ago.  The
indexes for scrap and waste materials, truck rental and leasing, passenger
car rental, electric power and natural gas utilities, cable and other pay
television services, home health care services, farm product warehousing
and storage, and for accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services also
rose after falling in the prior month.  Prices for freight transportation
on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway decreased 0.1 percent after dropping
2.9 percent in the previous month.  The indexes for water transportation of
freight (not elsewhere classified), travel agencies, and domestic deep sea
transportation of freight also fell less than in April.  Prices for marine
cargo handling increased 1.7 percent after rising 0.1 percent in the prior
month.  The indexes for airports, flying fields, and airport services;
radio broadcasting; and  architectural design, analysis, and consulting
services also increased more than a month ago.  Prices for advertising
agencies rose 0.4 percent after showing no change in the previous month.
The indexes for local trucking with storage, building cleaning and
maintenance services (not elsewhere classified), skilled and intermediate
care facilities, refined petroleum pipelines, and legal services also
increased after showing no change in April.  Prices for employment agencies
showed no change after falling 0.3 percent in the prior month.

                                   *****
              Producer Price Index data for June 1997 will be
            released on Friday, July 11, at 8:30 a.m. (E.D.T.)
                                   *****
Information in this news release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-7828; TDD phone: 202-606-
5897; TDD Message Referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.



     
 Table 1.  Producer Price Indexes and percent changes by stage of processing
 (1982=100)
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                  |          |                       |Unadjusted     |
                                                  |          |                       |  percent      |Seasonally adjusted
                                                  | Relative |    Unadjusted index   |change to      |percent change from:
                     Grouping                     |importance|                       | May 1997 from:|
                                                  |          |_______________________|_______________|_______________________________
                                                  |   Dec.   |       |       |       |       |       |       |         |
                                                  |           Jan.   |Apr.   | May   |   May | Apr.  |Feb. to|Mar.  to |Apr.  to
                                                  |   1996 1/|1997 2/|1997 2/|1997 2/|  1996 | 1997  |  Mar. |   Apr.  |   May
 _________________________________________________|__________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_________|____________
                                                  |
 Finished goods...................................|  100.000   132.6   131.6   131.5     0.3   -0.1     -0.1     -0.6    -0.3
   Finished consumer goods........................|   76.423   131.0   129.9   129.8      .4    -.1      -.2      -.7     -.4
     Finished consumer foods......................|   23.644   134.1   134.3   135.0     2.7     .5       .9      -.4      .4
       Crude......................................|    1.639   130.3   120.5   123.1     4.9    2.2      4.9    -13.2     3.1
       Processed..................................|   22.005   134.3   135.3   135.9     2.6     .4       .6       .5      .3
     Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   52.779   129.5   127.8   127.4     -.6    -.3      -.7      -.7     -.8
       Nondurable goods less foods................|   36.392   125.7   123.4   123.3     -.6    -.1     -1.2     -1.0     -.8
       Durable goods..............................|   16.387   134.9   134.5   133.6     -.4    -.7       .1      -.1     -.6
   Capital equipment..............................|   23.577   139.0   138.5   138.1     -.1    -.3       .3      -.4     -.2
     Manufacturing industries.....................|    6.028   137.8   137.8   137.5      .3    -.2       .1      -.1     -.1
     Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   17.549   139.3   138.7   138.2     -.2    -.4       .4      -.5     -.3
                                                  |
 Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|  100.000   126.3   125.3   125.3     -.7    0        -.6      -.3     -.2
   Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   49.031   128.4   128.4   128.4     -.3    0        -.1      -.1     0
     Materials for food manufacturing.............|    3.318   122.9   123.8   123.8    -2.2    0        0        -.1     -.3
     Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   15.610   130.1   129.2   129.3     -.7     .1      -.5      -.2      .2
     Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   10.965   131.9   133.4   133.5      .8     .1       .7      -.1      .2
     Components for manufacturing.................|   19.138   126.8   126.6   126.4     -.3    -.2      -.1       .1     -.2
   Materials and components for construction......|   12.691   145.0   146.7   147.2     2.6     .3       .3       .3      .4
   Processed fuels and lubricants.................|   13.665    93.4    87.1    86.8    -5.0    -.3     -4.6     -1.9    -2.1
     Manufacturing industries ....................|    5.415    96.1    89.6    89.6    -5.4    0       -4.7     -1.7    -2.0
     Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    8.250    91.6    85.5    85.0    -4.8    -.6     -4.4     -2.1    -2.1
   Containers.....................................|    3.527   137.8   134.8   134.9    -4.7     .1      -.5     -1.5      .1
   Supplies.......................................|   21.086   135.5   136.1   136.2     0       .1       .4       .1      .1
     Manufacturing industries.....................|    7.535   138.7   139.0   139.0      .3    0        0        0       0
     Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   13.551   133.8   134.6   134.8     -.1     .1       .5       .2      .2
       Feeds......................................|    1.607   127.3   134.6   137.1     -.1    1.9      4.2      1.4     2.0
       Other supplies.............................|   11.944   134.7   134.6   134.5     -.1    -.1       .1      0       -.1
                                                  |
 Crude materials for further processing...........|  100.000   126.3   108.9   110.6    -4.6    1.6     -6.9      -.9     1.3
   Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   38.004   112.2   116.8   117.4    -8.1     .5      2.1      3.3     -.3
   Nonfood materials..............................|   61.996   131.0    99.7   102.1    -1.6    2.4    -12.5     -4.1     2.5
     Nonfood materials except fuel 3/.............|   36.095   112.8   103.7   104.9    -1.1    1.2     -3.7      -.4     1.4
       Manufacturing 3/...........................|   32.588   104.6    95.1    96.4    -1.7    1.4     -4.0      -.5     1.6
       Construction...............................|    3.507   200.7   201.7   202.7     4.9     .5       .1      -.1      .6
     Crude fuel 4/................................|   25.901   149.8    83.6    87.7    -2.7    4.9    -25.4    -11.0     4.9
       Manufacturing industries...................|    5.258   141.6    82.7    86.4    -2.4    4.5    -23.7    -10.0     4.5
       Nonmanufacturing industries................|   20.643   153.9    84.9    89.2    -2.6    5.1    -25.9    -11.2     5.1
                                                  |
                Special groupings                 |
                                                  |
 Finished goods, excluding foods..................|5/ 76.356   132.1   130.7   130.3     -.5    -.3      -.4      -.7     -.5
 Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|6/ 95.065   126.4   125.2   125.2     -.6    0        -.6      -.3     -.2
 Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|6/  4.935   124.6   127.5   128.3    -1.5     .6      1.4       .4      .5
 Crude materials less agricultural products 3/ 7/.|8/ 59.898   131.4    99.1   101.6    -1.5    2.5    -12.8     -4.0     2.6
                                                  |
 Finished energy goods............................|5/ 14.720    86.5    82.2    82.0    -3.1    -.2     -3.4     -2.6    -2.1
 Finished goods less energy.......................|5/ 85.280   140.3   140.3   140.2      .9    -.1       .5      -.2     -.1
 Finished consumer goods less energy..............|5/ 61.703   140.8   141.0   141.0     1.2    0         .6      -.2     0
                                                  |
 Finished goods less foods and energy.............|5/ 61.636   142.8   142.6   142.2      .1    -.3       .4      -.1     -.3
 Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|5/ 38.059   145.1   145.2   144.7      .3    -.3       .3      0       -.3
 Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|5/ 21.672   152.4   152.9   152.8      .9    -.1       .5       .1     -.1
                                                  |
 Intermediate energy goods........................|6/ 13.796    93.2    86.9    86.7    -4.9    -.2     -4.6     -2.0    -1.9
 Intermediate materials less energy...............|6/ 86.204   133.5   133.8   133.8     0      0         .1      0        .1
 Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|6/ 81.269   134.1   134.2   134.2      .1    0        0        0       0
                                                  |
 Crude energy materials 3/........................|8/ 42.427   119.4    78.7    81.4    -2.3    3.4    -19.2     -5.2     3.4
 Crude materials less energy......................|8/ 57.573   123.5   126.6   127.4    -5.6     .6      1.6      1.3      .2
 Crude nonfood materials less energy 4/...........|8/ 19.569   156.6   156.0   157.4     -.4     .9       .6     -2.3     1.2
                                                  |
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
   1/  Comprehensive relative importance figures are initially computed          3/  Includes crude petroleum.
       after the publication of December indexes and are recalculated            4/  Excludes crude petroleum.
       after final December indexes are available.  The first-published          5/  Percent of total finished goods.
       and final December relative importances initially appear,                 6/  Percent of total intermediate materials.
       respectively, in the release tables containing January and May data.      7/  Formerly titled "Crude materials for
   2/  The indexes for Jan. 1997 have been recalculated to incorporate               further processing, excluding crude
       late reports and corrections by respondents.  All indexes                     foodstuffs and feedstuffs, plant and
       are subject to revision four months after original publication.               animal fibers, oilseeds, and leaf tobacco."
                                                                                 8/  Percent of total crude materials.
 Table 2.  Producer Price Indexes and percent changes for selected commodity groupings by stage of processing
 (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
            |                                                       |                       |Unadjusted     |
            |                                                       |                       | percent       |Seasonally adjusted
            |                                                       |   Unadjusted index    |change to      |percent change from:
  Commodity |                                                       |                       | May 1997 from:|
    code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
            |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
            |                                                       |Jan.   |Apr.   | May   |  May  | Apr.  |Feb. to|Mar. to|Apr. to
            |                                                       |1997 1/|1997 1/|1997 1/| 1996  | 1997  |  Mar. |  Apr. |   May
 ___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
            |                                                       |
            |FINISHED GOODS.........................................| 132.6   131.6   131.5     0.3   -0.1     -0.1    -0.6    -0.3
            | FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS...............................| 131.0   129.9   129.8      .4    -.1      -.2     -.7     -.4
            |  FINISHED CONSUMER FOODS..............................| 134.1   134.3   135.0     2.7     .5       .9     -.4      .4
            |                                                       |
 01-11      |   Fresh fruits and melons 2/..........................| 111.7   100.1   108.0    18.8    7.9     -3.4    -4.9     7.9
 01-13      |   Fresh and dry vegetables 2/.........................| 108.7   111.2   111.3   -17.7     .1     13.3   -20.4      .1
 01-71-07   |   Eggs for fresh use (Dec. 1991=100) 2/...............| 104.2    87.6    86.9    -3.2    -.8     -6.6   -11.3     -.8
 02-11      |   Bakery products 2/..................................| 173.2   172.9   173.5     2.9     .3      -.1     -.1      .3
 02-13      |   Milled rice 2/......................................| 128.1   128.5   127.6    -2.4    -.7     -1.2      .9     -.7
 02-14-02   |   Pasta products (June 1985=100) 2/...................| 126.9   126.4   126.5     -.2     .1      0      -1.6      .1
 02-21-01   |   Beef and veal.......................................| 101.9   103.2   105.3    11.1    2.0      6.8     -.2     1.8
 02-21-04   |   Pork................................................| 123.4   123.8   131.3     7.6    6.1     -3.6     5.6     3.2
 02-22-03   |   Processed young chickens............................| 121.2   117.8   117.6      .5    -.2       .6    -1.0    -1.5
 02-22-06   |   Processed turkeys 2/................................|  98.4   101.6   103.8    -2.2    2.2      1.1     1.7     2.2
 02-23      |   Finfish and shellfish...............................| 183.8   174.5   179.9    17.0    3.1      7.9    -5.0     7.9
 02-3       |   Dairy products......................................| 126.3   127.9   126.0     -.7   -1.5       .1    -1.0    -1.5
 02-4       |   Processed fruits and vegetables 2/..................| 127.8   127.2   126.8     -.6    -.3      -.3     -.1     -.3
 02-55      |   Confectionery end products 2/.......................| 167.9   168.6   168.9     1.0     .2       .1      .3      .2
 02-62      |   Soft drinks.........................................| 133.7   135.1   133.9      .2    -.9       .8      .5     -.4
 02-63-01   |   Roasted coffee 2/...................................| 128.1   151.6   160.4    25.6    5.8     12.9     4.8     5.8
 02-76      |   Shortening and cooking oils 2/......................| 136.6   135.3   137.2    -3.4    1.4      -.2     -.9     1.4
            |                                                       |
            |  FINISHED CONSUMER GOODS EXCLUDING FOODS..............| 129.5   127.8   127.4     -.6    -.3      -.7     -.7     -.8
            |                                                       |
 02-61      |   Alcoholic beverages.................................| 135.4   135.9   135.3     1.9    -.4       .8      .1     -.2
 03-81-01   |   Women's apparel 2/..................................| 120.0   119.6   119.8      .3     .2       .1     -.5      .2
 03-81-02   |   Men's and boys' apparel.............................| 132.4   132.5   132.6      .3     .1       .2     -.1      .2
 03-81-03   |   Girls', children's, and infants' apparel 2/.........| 124.0   124.4   124.3     2.1    -.1      0       0       -.1
 03-82      |   Textile housefurnishings 2/.........................| 123.8   122.2   122.2      .8    0        -.3     0       0
 04-3       |   Footwear............................................| 143.1   143.5   143.7     1.8     .1      0       -.1      .3
 05-41      |   Residential electric power (Dec. 1990=100)..........| 110.6   110.2   111.7     -.4    1.4      -.1     -.1     0
 05-51      |   Residential gas (Dec. 1990=100).....................| 123.0   111.8   110.1      .3   -1.5     -4.8    -3.3    -1.3
 05-71      |   Gasoline............................................|  76.6    73.3    72.3    -9.7   -1.4     -4.0    -4.1    -7.1
 05-73-02-01|   Fuel oil No. 2......................................|  75.8    64.9    66.1    -4.8    1.8     -9.9     1.4     2.2
 06-35      |   Pharmaceutical preps, ethical (Prescription)........| 270.2   273.2   274.0     3.2     .3      1.2     -.7      .4
 06-36      |   Pharmaceutical preps,proprietary (Over-counter).....| 185.1   187.6   187.8     2.6     .1       .1     1.0      .3
 06-71      |   Soaps and synthetic detergents 2/...................| 125.4   126.6   126.5     1.0    -.1      0       1.0     -.1
 06-75      |   Cosmetics and other toilet preparations 2/..........| 130.5   130.6   130.9      .5     .2       .2     0        .2
 07-12      |   Tires, tubes, tread, etc 2/.........................|  96.7    96.4    95.8    -1.6    -.6      -.1      .5     -.6
 09-15-01   |   Sanitary papers and health products 2/..............| 147.8   144.7   143.0    -5.2   -1.2      -.5     -.5    -1.2
 09-31-01   |   Newspaper circulation...............................| 201.6   202.2   202.1     2.5    0         .3      .4     -.2
 09-32-01   |   Periodical circulation..............................| 187.6   187.2   186.7     3.3    -.3       .5     2.0     -.5
 09-33      |   Book publishing 2/..................................| 197.9   200.2   200.4     3.2     .1      1.4     0        .1
 12-1       |   Household furniture 2/..............................| 145.4   146.0   146.0     1.1    0         .3     0       0
 12-3       |   Floor coverings 2/..................................| 127.8   128.2   128.4     1.6     .2      -.2     -.6      .2
 12-4       |   Household appliances 2/.............................| 111.5   110.7   110.8    -2.0     .1       .1     -.3      .1
 12-5       |   Home electronic equipment 2/........................|  78.2    78.3    78.3    -1.0    0        -.3      .1     0
 12-62      |   Household glassware 2/..............................| 158.5   160.1   162.0     2.6    1.2      -.4     1.5     1.2
 12-64      |   Household flatware 2/...............................| 138.6   138.6   138.6      .1    0        0       0       0
 12-66      |   Lawn and garden equip., ex. tractors 2/.............| 133.1   132.9   132.9      .5    0         .2     -.2     0
 14-11-01   |   Passenger cars......................................| 136.5   135.0   132.8    -1.9   -1.6       .2     -.5    -1.6
 15-11      |   Toys, games, and children's vehicles................| 125.9   125.3   125.2     -.2    -.1       .6      .2     -.2
 15-12      |   Sporting and athletic goods 2/......................| 123.1   123.8   123.6      .2    -.2       .7    -1.1     -.2
 15-2       |   Tobacco products 2/.................................| 239.4   247.3   248.3     3.5     .4      2.5      .9      .4
 15-5       |   Mobile homes 2/.....................................| 151.1   152.0   151.8     1.7    -.1       .1      .7     -.1
 15-94-02   |   Jewelry, platinum, & karat gold 2/..................| 128.6   128.6   128.5     -.6    -.1       .5      .2     -.1
 15-94-04   |   Costume jewelry and novelties 2/....................| 139.8   139.8   139.8     2.0    0         .2      .9     0
            |                                                       |
            | CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.....................................| 139.0   138.5   138.1     -.1    -.3       .3     -.4     -.2
            |                                                       |
 11-1       |   Agricultural machinery and equipment 2/.............| 148.2   147.6   147.4      .9    -.1       .2      .1     -.1
 11-2       |   Construction machinery and equipment................| 142.0   142.3   142.3     1.9    0         .1      .1      .1
 11-37      |   Metal cutting machine tools 2/......................| 154.5   154.8   155.6     2.0     .5       .1      .2      .5
 11-38      |   Metal forming machine tools 2/......................| 151.4   152.5   153.1     2.4     .4      -.3     0        .4
 11-39      |   Tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and ind. molds 2/......| 137.5   137.7   138.0     1.5     .2       .4     -.1      .2
 11-41      |   Pumps, compressors, and equipment...................| 145.3   145.8   146.0     1.8     .1       .1      .3      .3
 11-44      |   Industrial material handling equipment 2/...........| 128.6   129.4   129.6     1.8     .2       .1      .5      .2
 11-51      |   Electronic computers (Dec. 1990=100) 2/.............|  37.4    34.7    33.1   -23.0   -4.6      -.3    -4.1    -4.6
 11-62      |   Textile machinery 2/................................| 151.0   151.3   152.5     2.8     .8       .3     -.2      .8
 11-64      |   Paper industries machinery (June 1982=100)..........| 155.5   157.3   157.3     2.3    0        -.3      .3      .1
 11-65      |   Printing trades machinery 2/........................| 138.5   140.0   139.3     2.1    -.5       .4      .1     -.5
 11-74      |   Transformers and power regulators 2/................| 128.5   128.4   128.3    -1.5    -.1      -.7     0       -.1
 11-76      |   Communication & related equip. (Dec. 1985=100) 2/...| 113.9   113.7   113.7      .9    0        -.4      .1     0
 11-79-05   |   X-ray and electromedical equipment 2/...............| 108.1   108.1   108.1    -1.5    0        -.1      .6     0
 11-91      |   Oil field and gas field machinery 2/................| 120.9   122.1   122.0     4.2    -.1       .6      .3     -.1
 11-92      |   Mining machinery and equipment 2/...................| 138.5   139.6   140.5     1.2     .6      0        .9      .6
 11-93      |   Office and store machines and equipment 2/..........| 112.3   112.5   112.5      .4    0         .5      .1     0
 12-2       |   Commercial furniture 2/.............................| 153.6   153.5   153.8     2.1     .2      -.2      .5      .2
 14-11-05   |   Light motor trucks..................................| 163.0   161.0   159.7     -.1    -.8      0       -.4     -.5
 14-11-06   |   Heavy motor trucks..................................| 140.3   141.2   141.2    -4.5    0        -.5     -.2     -.4
 14-14      |   Truck trailers 2/...................................| 130.2   130.4   130.4     0      0         .3     -.1     0
 14-21-02   |   Civilian aircraft (Dec. 1985=100)...................| 149.4   149.4   149.6     2.3     .1      2.1    -2.0      .4
 14-31      |   Ships (Dec. 1985=100) 2/............................| 142.7   145.4   141.5     2.3   -2.7      -.1     2.0    -2.7
 14-4       |   Railroad equipment..................................| 142.4   130.9   131.8    -4.3     .7     -2.1    -2.1      .7
            |                                                       |
            |INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND COMPONENTS.......| 126.3   125.3   125.3     -.7    0        -.6     -.3     -.2
            |                                                       |
            | INTERMEDIATE FOODS AND FEEDS..........................| 124.6   127.5   128.3    -1.5     .6      1.4      .4      .5
            |                                                       |
 02-12-03   |   Flour 2/............................................| 122.1   123.6   123.4   -24.3    -.2     -2.7     3.5     -.2
 02-53      |   Refined sugar 2/....................................| 126.0   125.7   124.4     1.4   -1.0      1.4     -.9    -1.0
 02-54      |   Confectionery materials.............................| 109.4   107.8   107.8     1.0    0         .8    -1.7     -.2
 02-72      |   Crude vegetable oils 2/.............................| 114.7   114.3   117.9    -8.5    3.1      6.0    -4.3     3.1
 02-9       |   Prepared animal feeds 2/............................| 131.2   137.6   139.9      .9    1.7      3.6     1.0     1.7
            |                                                       |
            | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS...........| 126.4   125.2   125.2     -.6    0        -.6     -.3     -.2
            |                                                       |
 03-1       |   Synthetic fibers 2/.................................| 112.7   111.5   111.5      .5    0       -2.3      .5     0
 03-2       |   Processed yarns and threads 2/......................| 114.2   114.3   113.7     -.7    -.5      -.2     -.3     -.5
 03-3       |   Gray fabrics 2/.....................................| 121.4   121.4   121.8      .2     .3       .1     -.3      .3
 03-4       |   Finished fabrics....................................| 123.7   124.0   123.9      .3    -.1      -.1     0       0
 03-83-03   |   Industrial textile products 2/......................| 126.2   127.5   127.6      .2     .1      1.3     -.5      .1
 04-2       |   Leather.............................................| 183.2   188.8   185.5     4.2   -1.7       .1     2.0    -2.7
 05-32      |   Liquefied petroleum gas 2/..........................| 114.8    82.6    75.0    -1.7   -9.2    -20.7    -5.3    -9.2
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 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 |                                                       |                       | May 1997 from:|
    code    |                      Grouping                         |_______________________|_______________|________________________
            |                                                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
            |                                                       |Jan.   |Apr.   | May   |  May  | Apr.  |Feb. to|Mar. to|Apr. to
            |                                                       |1997 1/|1997 1/|1997 1/| 1996  | 1997  |  Mar. |  Apr. |   May
 ___________|_______________________________________________________|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|_______|________
            |                                                       |
            | INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS LESS FOODS AND FEEDS           |
            |   -Continued..........................................|
 05-42      |   Commercial electric power...........................| 127.7   127.4   128.4    -0.9    0.8     -0.2     0.5    -1.3
 05-43      |   Industrial electric power...........................| 128.3   127.8   128.4    -4.9     .5       .1     -.1    -1.8
 05-52      |   Commercial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 121.2   103.5   101.9     1.6   -1.5     -6.8    -4.9     1.2
 05-53      |   Industrial natural gas (Dec. 1990=100)..............| 130.2   101.8    99.9     3.0   -1.9    -13.0    -2.2    -1.2
 05-54      |   Natural gas to electric utilities (Dec. 1990=100)...| 112.3    87.7    91.2     1.2    4.0    -16.5    -4.8     7.2
 05-72-03   |   Jet fuels...........................................|  75.1    61.6    58.5   -15.0   -5.0     -8.7    -6.1    -6.2
 05-73-03   |   No. 2 Diesel fuel...................................|  73.2    65.9    64.1   -14.0   -2.7    -10.7     -.3    -2.7
 05-74      |   Residual fuel 2/....................................|  64.6    49.9    56.6    -8.6   13.4    -20.4    -7.2    13.4
 06-1       |   Industrial chemicals 2/.............................| 127.9   126.6   126.0    -1.3    -.5      -.6     -.9     -.5
 06-21      |   Prepared paint......................................| 150.1   152.5   152.4     4.5    -.1       .3      .4      .1
 06-22      |   Paint materials 2/..................................| 140.1   139.8   142.2     -.5    1.7      -.1     -.5     1.7
 06-31      |   Medicinal and botanical chemicals 2/................| 131.7   132.3   132.4     2.5     .1      0       2.4      .1
 06-4       |   Fats and oils, inedible 2/..........................| 150.3   116.3   122.2    -6.5    5.1     -9.7   -12.4     5.1
 06-51      |   Mixed fertilizers...................................| 112.8   113.5   113.7    -2.0     .2      -.2     -.9      .3
 06-52-01   |   Nitrogenates........................................| 138.4   141.5   140.2     5.6    -.9     -1.5     3.8     -.1
 06-52-02   |   Phosphates 2/.......................................| 111.6   112.2   111.5    -6.4    -.6       .4     0       -.6
 06-53      |   Other agricultural chemicals........................| 147.3   144.4   145.7      .3     .9       .9      .7     1.3
 06-6       |   Plastic resins and materials 2/.....................| 137.0   139.0   139.2     6.6     .1       .4      .1      .1
 07-11-02   |   Synthetic rubber 2/.................................| 121.2   119.6   119.5    -2.0    -.1      -.7    -1.0     -.1
 07-21      |   Plastic construction products 2/....................| 127.7   128.9   129.7     -.7     .6      -.5      .5      .6
 07-22      |   Unsupported plastic film, sheet, & other shapes.....| 132.3   131.4   131.8      .2     .3      -.5      .5      .4
 07-26      |   Plastic parts and components for manufacturing 2/...| 117.5   117.4   117.4     -.3    0         .1     -.1     0
 08-11      |   Softwood lumber 2/..................................| 202.6   214.9   217.7    13.3    1.3      1.3     2.2     1.3
 08-12      |   Hardwood lumber 2/..................................| 168.4   172.1   173.1     6.1     .6      1.0      .9      .6
 08-2       |   Millwork 2/.........................................| 170.1   170.8   171.2     3.3     .2       .1      .2      .2
 08-3       |   Plywood 2/..........................................| 154.5   159.0   158.3     0      -.4      3.1    -3.0     -.4
 09-11      |   Woodpulp 2/.........................................| 127.4   121.9   122.6     7.4     .6     -1.1    -2.9      .6
 09-13      |   Paper 2/............................................| 141.7   141.6   142.4    -4.7     .6      -.1     1.2      .6
 09-14      |   Paperboard..........................................| 147.1   137.2   137.0   -11.0    -.1     -2.7    -2.7     1.2
 09-15-03   |   Paper boxes and containers 2/.......................| 148.1   142.3   142.4    -8.3     .1     -1.2    -2.2      .1
 09-2       |   Building paper and board 2/.........................| 132.4   129.7   128.6    -6.7    -.8       .3    -1.1     -.8
 09-37      |   Commercial printing (June 1982=100) 2/..............| 147.8   147.9   147.8     -.5    -.1      -.1     0       -.1
 10-15      |   Foundry and forge shop products.....................| 133.6   134.2   134.1     1.1    -.1       .4     -.1     0
 10-17      |   Steel mill products 2/..............................| 115.9   116.3   116.2      .9    -.1      0        .3     -.1
 10-22      |   Primary nonferrous metals 2/........................| 125.4   129.0   129.7    -4.1     .5      3.9    -1.7      .5
 10-25-01   |   Aluminum mill shapes 2/.............................| 141.8   146.9   146.2      .6    -.5      1.1      .3     -.5
 10-25-02   |   Copper and brass mill shapes 2/.....................| 179.0   182.0   182.4    -4.7     .2      3.8    -1.5      .2
 10-26      |   Nonferrous wire and cable 2/........................| 147.7   150.2   150.9      .1     .5      1.0      .2      .5
 10-3       |   Metal containers 2/.................................| 108.0   107.9   107.8    -1.7    -.1       .2     -.4     -.1
 10-4       |   Hardware............................................| 144.9   145.3   145.4     1.3     .1      -.1      .5      .1
 10-5       |   Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings................| 171.9   174.8   175.1     2.1     .2      -.6      .1      .2
 10-6       |   Heating equipment...................................| 152.0   152.2   152.3     1.0     .1      -.1      .3      .1
 10-7       |   Fabricated structural metal products................| 139.0   139.6   140.2     2.0     .4      0        .2      .4
 10-88      |   Fabricated ferrous wire products (June 1982=100) 2/.| 127.3   127.3   127.3      .1    0        0        .2     0
 10-89      |   Other misc. metal products 2/.......................| 126.1   126.2   126.2      .5    0        -.2     0       0
 11-45      |   Mechanical power transmission equipment.............| 153.7   154.6   154.9     2.4     .2       .1     0        .3
 11-48      |   Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment........| 132.2   132.8   132.7     0      -.1       .2      .3      .1
 11-49-02   |   Metal valves, ex.fluid power (Dec. 1982=100) 2/.....| 151.3   153.2   153.1     2.1    -.1       .4      .5     -.1
 11-49-05   |   Ball and roller bearings............................| 161.1   163.4   163.5     4.0     .1      1.6      .8      .2
 11-71      |   Wiring devices......................................| 152.2   153.5   153.9     1.9     .3       .1      .5      .4
 11-73      |   Motors, generators, motor generator sets............| 144.4   144.5   144.7    -1.0     .1      -.1      .1      .1
 11-75      |   Switchgear, switchboard, etc., equipment............| 144.0   144.6   144.7     1.8     .1      -.3      .1      .3
 11-78      |   Electronic components and accessories 2/............| 106.7   105.5   104.6    -3.6    -.9      -.4     -.2     -.9
 11-94      |   Internal combustion engines.........................| 139.8   139.8   139.7      .9    -.1       .4      .1      .1
 11-95      |   Machine shop products 2/............................| 134.8   134.9   134.9     1.4    0        -.2      .2     0
 13-11      |   Flat glass 2/.......................................| 108.8   108.4   108.3    -1.0    -.1      -.3     -.1     -.1
 13-22      |   Cement..............................................| 136.4   140.0   140.1     3.9     .1      -.2      .7     -.4
 13-3       |   Concrete products...................................| 135.0   135.5   136.1     2.3     .4       .1      .1      .6
 13-6       |   Asphalt felts and coatings 2/.......................|  99.6   100.2   100.5      .3     .3      -.5      .8      .3
 13-7       |   Gypsum products 2/..................................| 169.0   170.5   173.7    17.4    1.9       .5     1.2     1.9
 13-8       |   Glass containers 2/.................................| 126.0   125.9   125.9    -2.9    0        0       0       0
 14-12      |   Motor vehicle parts 2/..............................| 115.7   115.3   115.3     -.9    0         .1     0       0
 14-23      |   Aircraft engines & engine parts (Dec. 1985=100).....| 137.7   137.8   135.3     1.0   -1.8       .1      .9    -1.9
 14-25      |   Aircraft parts & aux.equip.,nec (June 1985=100) 2/..| 141.4   140.2   140.8     1.0     .4      -.1     -.1      .4
 15-42      |   Photographic supplies 2/............................| 129.3   129.3   127.8    -1.4   -1.2      0       0      -1.2
 15-6       |   Medical/surgical/personal aid devices...............| 142.9   144.2   142.9     -.4    -.9       .1      .5     -.9
            |                                                       |
            | CRUDE MATERIALS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING................| 126.3   108.9   110.6    -4.6    1.6     -6.9     -.9     1.3
            |                                                       |
            |  CRUDE FOODSTUFFS AND FEEDSTUFFS......................| 112.2   116.8   117.4    -8.1     .5      2.1     3.3     -.3
            |                                                       |
 01-21      |   Wheat 2/............................................| 114.7   121.7   115.2   -34.3   -5.3       .7     7.5    -5.3
 01-22-02-05|   Corn................................................| 107.6   119.2   114.7   -43.2   -3.8      9.9    -3.9    -3.1
 01-31      |   Slaughter cattle....................................|  95.8   103.3   101.6    13.3   -1.6      6.9     5.0      .7
 01-32      |   Slaughter hogs......................................|  89.0    91.5   100.2     2.5    9.5    -10.2    19.2     2.3
 01-41-02   |   Slaughter broilers/fryers...........................| 150.8   132.3   135.4    -8.9    2.3    -15.7    13.5   -10.3
 01-42      |   Slaughter turkeys...................................|  98.9   111.8   119.2     -.3    6.6     -1.7     8.1     5.3
 01-6       |   Fluid milk..........................................|  97.0    98.3    95.8    -8.7   -2.5      3.9     -.7    -3.5
 01-83-01-31|   Soybeans............................................| 124.4   142.4   149.8     8.0    5.2     11.7    -3.5     5.1
 02-52-01-01|   Cane sugar,raw 2/...................................| 117.6   116.1   115.8    -2.8    -.3      1.0     -.3     -.3
 
            |                                                       |
            |  CRUDE NONFOOD MATERIALS..............................| 131.0    99.7   102.1    -1.6    2.4    -12.5    -4.1     2.5
            |                                                       |
 01-51-01-01|   Raw cotton..........................................| 116.6   114.7   115.5   -16.4     .7       .3   -10.2     1.2
 01-92-01-01|   Leaf tobacco 2/.....................................| 118.2     (3)     (3)     (3)    (3)     -8.2     (3)     (3)
 04-11      |   Cattle hides 2/.....................................| 207.5   212.0   207.9    16.7   -1.9      2.0      .1    -1.9
 05-1       |   Coal 2/.............................................|  97.3   101.4    94.9    -2.2   -6.4      3.2     5.2    -6.4
 05-31      |   Natural gas 2/......................................| 159.5    80.5    85.2    -3.2    5.8    -29.2   -13.3     5.8
 05-61      |   Crude petroleum 2/..................................|  73.4    56.1    60.2    -1.3    7.3    -13.4     -.4     7.3
 08-5       |   Logs, timber, etc. 2/...............................| 213.0   215.2   216.4     6.7     .6      0       0        .6
 09-12      |   Wastepaper 2/.......................................| 150.3   154.0   164.7    32.7    6.9      8.4    -7.6     6.9
 10-11      |   Iron ore 2/.........................................|  99.7    99.7    95.2      .4   -4.5      0       0      -4.5
 10-12      |   Iron and steel scrap 2/.............................| 182.2   180.2   185.0    -7.3    2.7     -2.2    -3.2     2.7
 10-21      |   Nonferrous metal ores (Dec. 1983=100) 2/............|  86.4    83.5    84.9   -12.7    1.7      4.6    -5.1     1.7
 10-23-01   |   Copper base scrap 2/................................| 163.6   164.9   172.2    -5.9    4.4      2.7    -2.5     4.4
 10-23-02   |   Aluminum base scrap.................................| 188.3   196.0   199.3    10.8    1.7      3.6    -2.1     4.8
 13-21      |   Construction sand, gravel, and crushed stone........| 147.2   148.2   148.2     1.8    0         .4      .1      .3
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 1/  The indexes for January 1997 have been recalculated                              2/  Not seasonally adjusted.
     to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.                      3/  Not available.
     All indexes are subject to revision four months after original
     publication.
 
 
 
 Table 3.  Producer Price Indexes for selected commodity groupings
 (1982=100 unless otherwise indicated)
 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
          |                                                |                                   |
          |                                                |         Unadjusted index 1/       |
 Commodity|                                                |___________________________________|
   code   |                    Grouping                    | Jan. 1997 |April 1997 |  May 1997 |
 _________|________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Finished Goods (1967=100)......................|   372.1   |   369.3   |   369.0   |
          | All commodities................................|   129.7   |   127.2   |   127.3   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |            MAJOR COMMODITY GROUPS              |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Farm products and processed foods and feeds....|   126.7   |   128.7   |   129.3   |
 01       |   Farm products................................|   113.0   |   116.6   |   117.3   |
 02       |   Processed foods and feeds....................|   133.4   |   134.6   |   135.3   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Industrial commodities.........................|   130.3   |   126.9   |   126.9   |
 03       |   Textile products and apparel.................|   122.6   |   122.5   |   122.5   |
 04       |   Hides, skins, leather, and related products..|   155.3   |   157.6   |   156.5   |
 05       |   Fuels and related products and power 2/......|    96.1   |    82.9   |    83.3   |
 06       |   Chemicals and allied products 2/.............|   143.6   |   143.8   |   143.8   |
 07       |   Rubber and plastic products..................|   123.2   |   123.2   |   123.4   |
 08       |   Lumber and wood products.....................|   180.6   |   184.9   |   186.1   |
 09       |   Pulp, paper, and allied products.............|   167.6   |   166.1   |   166.1   |
 10       |   Metals and metal products....................|   131.0   |   131.8   |   132.2   |
 11       |   Machinery and equipment......................|   126.4   |   126.2   |   125.9   |
 12       |   Furniture and household durables.............|   130.9   |   130.9   |   131.1   |
 13       |   Nonmetallic mineral products.................|   132.3   |   133.2   |   133.4   |
 14       |   Transportation equipment.....................|   142.9   |   142.2   |   141.3   |
 15       |   Miscellaneous products.......................|   148.7   |   150.6   |   150.3   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          | Industrial commodities less fuels and related  |           |           |           |
          |   products and power...........................|   139.1   |   139.2   |   139.1   |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
          |             OTHER COMMODITY GROUPINGS          |           |           |           |
          |                                                |           |           |           |
 01-1     | Fruits and melons, fresh and dry vegetables,   |           |           |           |
          |   and tree nuts................................|   117.0   |   111.2   |   115.9   |
 01-2     | Grains.........................................|   111.1   |   121.2   |   116.6   |
 01-3     | Slaughter livestock............................|    95.4   |   101.6   |   102.6   |
 01-4     | Slaughter poultry..............................|   138.1   |   127.0   |   130.9   |
 01-5     | Plant and animal fibers........................|   116.4   |   115.1   |   116.0   |
 01-7     | Chicken eggs...................................|   125.8   |   108.2   |   106.2   |
 01-8     | Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds....................|   147.6   |   164.4   |   170.6   |
 01-83    | Oilseeds.......................................|   134.7   |   151.7   |   159.1   |
 01-9     | Other farm products............................|   176.2   |  'N.A.'   |  'N.A.'   |
 02-1     | Cereal and bakery products.....................|   158.3   |   158.5   |   158.6   |
 02-2     | Meats, poultry, and fish.......................|   119.1   |   118.8   |   121.2   |
 02-22    | Processed poultry..............................|   118.6   |   116.8   |   117.0   |
 02-5     | Sugar and confectionery........................|   138.8   |   138.6   |   138.5   |
 02-6     | Beverages and beverage materials...............|   135.3   |   138.7   |   138.8   |
 02-63    | Packaged beverage materials....................|   126.7   |   146.8   |   154.2   |
 02-7     | Fats and oils..................................|   128.8   |   128.5   |   130.9   |
 03-81    | Apparel........................................|   125.4   |   125.3   |   125.4   |
 04-4     | Other leather and related products.............|   142.0   |   143.3   |   143.3   |
 05-3     | Gas fuels 2/...................................|   145.8   |    80.0   |    81.4   |
 05-4     | Electric power.................................|   128.5   |   128.1   |   129.3   |
 05-7     | Refined petroleum products.....................|    74.3   |    68.3   |    67.7   |
 06-3     | Drugs and pharmaceuticals......................|   217.4   |   219.3   |   219.7   |
 06-5     | Agricultural chemicals and products............|   134.1   |   134.0   |   134.0   |
 06-7     | Other chemicals and allied products............|   132.4   |   132.8   |   133.2   |
 07-1     | Rubber and rubber products.....................|   116.5   |   116.3   |   116.1   |
 07-11    | Rubber, except natural rubber..................|   120.5   |   118.9   |   118.8   |
 07-13    | Miscellaneous rubber products..................|   137.4   |   137.7   |   137.9   |
 07-2     | Plastic products...............................|   129.7   |   129.8   |   130.1   |
 08-1     | Lumber.........................................|   190.2   |   199.8   |   202.0   |
 09-1     | Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building  |           |           |           |
          |   paper and board..............................|   145.1   |   141.8   |   142.0   |
 09-15    | Converted paper and paperboard products........|   150.3   |   146.7   |   146.2   |
 10-1     | Iron and steel.................................|   125.5   |   125.7   |   126.0   |
 10-2     | Nonferrous metals..............................|   136.0   |   138.1   |   138.9   |
 10-25    | Nonferrous mill shapes.........................|   141.5   |   145.4   |   144.8   |
 11-3     | Metalworking machinery and equipment...........|   144.3   |   145.1   |   145.3   |
 11-4     | General purpose machinery and equipment........|   143.8   |   144.9   |   145.0   |
 11-6     | Special industry machinery.....................|   155.3   |   156.1   |   156.5   |
 11-7     | Electrical machinery and equipment.............|   123.0   |   122.7   |   122.4   |
 11-9     | Miscellaneous machinery and equipment..........|   130.4   |   130.6   |   130.7   |
 12-6     | Other household durable goods..................|   149.2   |   149.8   |   150.2   |
 13-2     | Concrete ingredients...........................|   140.7   |   142.7   |   142.7   |
 14-1     | Motor vehicles and equipment...................|   134.6   |   133.6   |   132.6   |
 15-1     | Toys, sporting goods, small arms, etc..........|   130.7   |   131.0   |   130.9   |
 15-4     | Photographic equipment and supplies............|   118.6   |   118.6   |   117.5   |
 15-9     | Other miscellaneous products...................|   133.3   |   133.6   |   133.4   |
 __________________________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|
 
 1/  Data for  Jan. 1997 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_May__1997_from:__
     code          |                                              |base |       |       |       |        |
                   |                                              |     |Jan.   |Apr.   |May    |  May   |  Apr.
                   |                                              |     |1997 2/|1997 2/|1997 2/|  1996  |  1997
 __________________|______________________________________________|_____|_______|_______|_______|________|___________
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Total mining industries...................... |12/84| 111.3    79.4    81.2    -2.1     2.3
        10         | Metal mining................................ |12/84|  89.9    87.6    87.9    -9.5      .3
        12         | Coal mining................................. |12/85|  92.9    95.6    91.9    -1.3    -3.9
        13         | Oil and gas extraction...................... |12/85| 121.1    77.8    80.9    -1.1     4.0
        14         | Mining and quarrying of non-metallic         |     |
                   |  minerals, except fuels..................... |12/84| 127.6   128.2   128.3      .5      .1
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Total manufacturing industries............... |12/84| 128.1   127.7   127.6      .2     -.1
        20         | Food and kindred products................... |12/84| 127.4   128.3   128.8     2.0      .4
        21         | Tobacco manufactures........................ |12/84| 201.4   208.7   209.5     4.2      .4
        22         | Textile mill products....................... |12/84| 118.6   118.8   118.9      .5      .1
        23         | Apparel and other finished products made     |     |
                   |  from fabrics and similar materials......... |12/84| 122.9   122.9   123.0      .7      .1
        24         | Lumber and wood products, except furniture.. |12/84| 156.4   159.6   160.3     4.2      .4
        25         | Furniture and fixtures...................... |12/84| 137.5   137.8   138.0     1.7      .1
        26         | Paper and allied products................... |12/84| 134.5   131.2   131.0    -5.2     -.2
        27         | Printing, publishing, and allied industries. |12/84| 168.0   168.4   168.4     1.9     0
        28         | Chemicals and allied products............... |12/84| 146.8   147.0   147.1      .8      .1
        29         | Petroleum refining and related products..... |12/84|  92.9    85.7    85.5    -7.9     -.2
        30         | Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products... |12/84| 122.9   122.9   122.9     -.1     0
        31         | Leather and leather products................ |12/84| 136.8   138.1   137.2     2.0     -.7
        32         | Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products... |12/84| 126.8   127.5   127.7     1.8      .2
        33         | Primary metal industries.................... |12/84| 123.6   125.0   125.1      .4      .1
        34         | Fabricated metal products, except machinery  |     |
                   |  and transportation equipment............... |12/84| 126.8   127.3   127.4     1.1      .1
        35         | Machinery, except electrical................ |12/84| 119.1   118.9   118.7     -.5     -.2
        36         | Electrical and electronic machinery,         |     |
                   |  equipment, and supplies.................... |12/84| 112.5   112.0   111.7    -1.2     -.3
        37         | Transportation equipment.................... |12/84| 135.4   134.8   134.0     -.1     -.6
        38         | Measuring and controlling instruments;       |     |
                   |  photographic, medical, optical goods;       |     |
                   |  watches, clocks............................ |12/84| 125.5   125.7   125.4      .2     -.2
        39         | Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...... |12/85| 128.6   128.7   128.8      .9      .1
                   |                                              |     |
                   |Services industries                           |     |
        40         | Railroad transportation..................... |12/96|  99.9   100.2   100.1     (3)     -.1
        42         | Motor freight transportation and warehousing |06/93| 108.0   108.6   108.6     2.5     0
        43         | United states postal service................ |06/89| 132.3   132.3   132.3     0       0
        44         | Water transportation........................ |12/92| 104.1   102.9   104.6     1.6     1.7
        45         | Transportation by air....................... |12/92| 128.8   125.8   125.8     4.1     0
        46         | Pipe lines, except natural gas.............. |12/86|  98.8    98.8    98.9    -4.6      .1
        80         | Health services............................. |12/94| 105.7   106.1   106.0     1.6     -.1
        81         | Legal services.............................. |12/96| 101.6   101.8   101.9     (3)      .1
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 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 Jan. 1997 have been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.
    All indexes are subject to revision four months after original publication.
 3/ Not available.

Table 5.  Producer Price Indexes by stage of processing, seasonally adjusted
(1982=100)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       |      
                                                       |                      Index 1/   
                                                       |________________________________________________________
               Grouping                                |         |        |        |        |        |        
                                                       |   Dec.  |  Jan.  |  Feb.  |  Mar.  |  Apr.  |  May.    
                                                       |   1996  |  1997  |  1997  |  1997  |  1997  |  1997  
_______________________________________________________|_________|________|________|________|________|__________
      Finished goods...................................|   133.4    133.0    132.5    132.4    131.6    131.2
        Finished consumer goods........................|   132.1    131.6    131.1    130.8    129.9    129.4
          Finished consumer foods......................|   135.9    134.6    134.1    135.3    134.7    135.2
            Crude......................................|   136.0    130.8    132.8    139.3    120.9    124.7
            Processed..................................|   135.9    134.8    134.1    134.9    135.6    136.0
          Finished consumer goods, excluding foods.....|   130.3    130.2    129.6    128.7    127.8    126.8
            Nondurable goods less foods................|   127.0    126.8    126.1    124.6    123.4    122.4
            Durable goods..............................|   134.5    134.4    134.4    134.6    134.4    133.6
        Capital equipment..............................|   138.5    138.6    138.5    138.9    138.3    138.0
          Manufacturing industries.....................|   137.4    137.7    137.7    137.8    137.7    137.5
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   138.9    138.9    138.7    139.2    138.5    138.1
                                                       |  
      Intermediate materials, supplies, and components.|   126.4    126.6    126.6    125.9    125.5    125.3
        Materials and components for manufacturing.....|   128.3    128.4    128.5    128.4    128.3    128.3
          Materials for food manufacturing.............|   124.1    123.6    124.3    124.3    124.2    123.8
          Materials for nondurable manufacturing.......|   129.8    130.1    129.9    129.3    129.0    129.2
          Materials for durable manufacturing..........|   131.5    131.9    132.5    133.4    133.3    133.5
          Components for manufacturing.................|   126.8    126.8    126.6    126.5    126.6    126.4
        Materials and components for construction......|   144.9    145.0    145.6    146.1    146.5    147.1
        Processed fuels and lubricants.................|    94.6     95.2     94.7     90.3     88.6     86.7
          Manufacturing industries ....................|    97.2     97.9     97.0     92.4     90.8     89.0
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|    92.9     93.4     93.1     89.0     87.1     85.3
        Containers.....................................|   137.7    137.9    137.5    136.8    134.8    134.9 
        Supplies.......................................|   135.6    135.4    135.4    135.9    136.0    136.2
          Manufacturing industries.....................|   138.9    138.7    139.0    139.0    139.0    139.0
          Nonmanufacturing industries..................|   133.8    133.7    133.5    134.2    134.5    134.8
            Feeds......................................|   127.9    126.9    127.4    132.7    134.6    137.3
            Other supplies.............................|   134.7    134.7    134.4    134.5    134.5    134.4
                                                       |   
      Crude materials for further processing...........|   122.1    126.7    118.2    110.0    109.0    110.4
        Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................|   114.5    113.1    111.3    113.6    117.3    117.0
        Nonfood materials..............................|   122.7    131.0    118.5    103.7     99.5    102.0
          Nonfood materials except fuel 2/.............|   109.3    112.9    107.7    103.7    103.3    104.7
            Manufacturing 2/...........................|   101.0    104.6     99.2     95.2     94.7     96.2
            Construction...............................|   199.0    200.6    201.3    201.6    201.3    202.5
          Crude fuel 3/................................|   134.1    149.8    125.9     93.9     83.6     87.7
            Manufacturing industries...................|   127.6    141.6    120.4     91.9     82.7     86.4
            Nonmanufacturing industries................|   137.5    153.9    129.0     95.6     84.9     89.2
                                                       |  
                     Special groupings                 |   
                                                       |   
      Finished goods, excluding foods..................|   132.5    132.4    132.0    131.5    130.6    129.9
      Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......|   126.5    126.7    126.6    125.8    125.4    125.1
      Intermediate foods and feeds.....................|   125.6    125.0    125.6    127.3    127.8    128.4
      Crude materials less agricultural products 2/....|   122.6    131.3    118.3    103.1     99.0    101.6
                                                       |   
      Finished energy goods............................|    88.6     88.4     87.5     84.5     82.3     80.6
      Finished goods less energy.......................|   140.6    140.2    139.9    140.6    140.3    140.2
      Finished consumer goods less energy..............|   141.4    140.9    140.5    141.3    141.0    141.0
                                                       |   
      Finished goods less foods and energy.............|   142.5    142.5    142.2    142.7    142.5    142.1
      Finished consumer goods less foods and energy....|   144.9    144.8    144.6    145.1    145.1    144.7
      Consumer nondurable goods less foods and energy..|   152.4    152.3    151.8    152.6    152.8    152.7
                                                       |   
      Intermediate energy goods........................|    94.3     94.9     94.4     90.1     88.3     86.6
      Intermediate materials less energy...............|   133.4    133.5    133.6    133.7    133.7    133.8
      Intermediate materials less foods and energy.....|   133.9    134.0    134.1    134.1    134.1    134.1
                                                       |   
      Crude energy materials 2/........................|   109.6    119.4    102.7     83.0     78.7     81.4
      Crude materials less energy......................|   124.2    124.2    123.1    125.1    126.7    127.0
      Crude nonfood materials less energy 3/...........|   153.2    156.7    157.8    158.7    155.0    156.9
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  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 January 1997 have 
      been recalculated to incorporate late reports and corrections by respondents.  
  2/  Includes crude petroleum.
  3/  Excludes crude petroleum.






Technical Notes





Brief Explanation of
Producer Price Indexes

     Producer price indexes (PPI) measure average changes in
prices received by domestic producers of commodities in all
stages of processing. Most of the information used in
calculating the indexes is obtained through the systematic
sampling of nearly every industry in the manufacturing and
mining sectors of the economy. The PPI program also includes
some information from other sectors--agriculture, fishing,
forestry, services, and gas and electricity. Because
producer price indexes are designed to measure only the
change in prices received for the output of domestic
industries, imports are not included. The sample currently
contains about 3,200 commodities and 80,000 quotations per
month.
     There are three primary systems of indexes within the
PPI program: (1) Stage of processing indexes; (2) commodity
indexes; and (3) indexes for the net output of industries
and their products. The stage-of-processing structure
(tables 1 and 2) organizes products by class of buyer and
degree of processing. The commodity structure (tables 2 and
3) organizes products by similarity of end-use or material
composition. The entire output of various industries is
sampled to derive price indexes for the net output of
industries and their products (table 4).
     Within the stage-of-processing system, finished goods
are commodities that will not undergo further processing and
are ready for sale to the final demand user, either an
individual consumer or business firm. Consumer foods include
unprocessed foods such as eggs and fresh vegetables, as well
as processed foods such as bakery products and meats. Other
finished consumer goods include durable goods such as
automobiles, household furniture, and appliances, and
nondurable goods such as apparel and home heating oil.
Capital equipment includes producer durable goods such as
heavy motor trucks, tractors, and machine tools.
     The stage-of-processing category for intermediate
materials, supplies, and components consists partly of
commodities that have been processed but require further
processing. Examples of such semifinished goods include
flour, cotton yarn, steel mill products, and lumber. The
intermediate goods category also encompasses nondurable,
physically complete items purchased by business firms as
inputs for their operations. Examples include diesel fuel,
belts and belting, paper boxes, and fertilizers.
     Crude materials for further processing are products
entering the market for the first time that have not been
manufactured or fabricated and that are not sold directly to
consumers. Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs include items
such as grains and livestock. Examples of crude nonfood
materials include raw cotton, crude petroleum, coal, hides
and skins, and iron and steel scrap.
     Producer price indexes for the net output of industries
and their products are grouped according to the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) and the Census product code
extension of the SIC. Industry price indexes are compatible
with other economic time series organized by SIC codes, such
as data on employment, wages, and productivity. Table 4
lists indexes for the net output of major mining and
manufacturing industry groups at the 2-digit level.
     Producer price indexes are based on selling prices
reported by establishments of all sizes selected by
probability sampling, with the probability of selection
proportionate to size. Individual items and transaction
terms from these firms are also chosen by probability
proportionate to size. BLS strongly encourages cooperating
companies to supply actual transaction prices at the time of
shipment to minimize the use of list prices. Prices are
normally reported by mail questionnaire for the Tuesday of
the week containing the 13th.
     Price data are provided on a voluntary and confidential
basis; no one but sworn BLS employees are allowed access to
individual company price reports. All producer price indexes
are routinely subject to revision once, 4 months after
original publication, to reflect the availability of late
reports and corrections by respondents.
     Net output values of shipments are used as weights for
industry indexes. Net output values refer to the value of
shipments from establishments in one industry to
establishments classified in another industry. However,
weights for commodity price indexes are based on gross
shipment values, including shipment values between
establishments within the same industry. As a result, broad
commodity grouping indexes such as the all commodities index
are affected by the multiple counting of price change at
successive stages of processing, which can lead to
exaggerated or misleading signals about inflation. Stage-of-
processing indexes partially correct this defect, but
industry indexes consistently correct for this at all levels
of aggregation. Therefore, industry and stage-of-processing
indexes are more appropriate than broad commodity groupings
for economic analysis of general price trends.
     Weights for most traditional commodity groupings of the
PPI, as well as all indexes (such as stage-of-processing
indexes) calculated from traditional commodity groupings,
currently reflect 1987 values of shipments as reported in
the Census of Manufactures and other sources. From January
1987 through December 1991, PPI weights were derived from
1982 shipment values. Industry indexes shown in table 4 are
also now calculated with 1987 net output weights.
     Effective with publication of January 1988 data, many
important PPI series (including stage-of-processing
groupings and most commodity groups and individual items)
were placed on a new reference base, 1982=100, to coincide
with the reference year of the shipment weights. From 1971
through 1987, the standard reference base for most PPI
series was 1967=100. Except for rounding differences, the
shift to the new reference base did not alter any changes to
previously published percent changes for affected PPI
series. (See "Calculating Index Changes," below.) The new
reference base is not used for indexes with a base later
than December 1981, nor for indexes for the net output of
industries and their products.
     For further information on the underlying concepts and
methodology of the Producer Price Index, see chapter 16,
"Producer Prices," in BLS Handbook of Methods (September
1992), Bulletin 2414. Reprints are available from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics on request.

Calculating Index Changes

     Movements of price indexes from one month to another
are usually expressed as percent changes rather than as
changes in index points because index point chances are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period, while percent changes are not. The box shows the
computation of index point and percent changes.
     Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods can be
expressed as annual rates that are computed according to the
standard formula for compound growth rates. These data
indicate what the percent change would be if the rate for a
given 3- or 6-month span were maintained for a 12-month
period.





                Index Point Change

     Finished Goods Price Index    107.5
     Less previous index           104.0
     Equals index point change       3.5

          Index Percent Change

     Index point change              3.5
     Divided by the previous index 104.0
     Equals                          0.034
     Result multiplied by 100        0.034 x 100
     Equals percent change           3.4

     Each index measures price changes from a reference
period which equals 100.0 (1982 or some later month). An
increase of 5.5 percent from the reference period in the
Finished Goods Price Index, for example, is shown as 105.5.
This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:
"Prices received by domestic producers of a systematic
sample of finished goods have risen from $100 in 1982 to
$105.50 to-day." Likewise, a current index of 90.0 would
indicate that prices received by producers of finished goods
today are 10 percent lower than they were in 1982.

Seasonally Adjusted
and Unadjusted Data

     Because price data are used for different purposes by
different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
month.
     Seasonally adjusted data are preferred for analyzing
general price trends in the economy because they eliminate
the effect of changes that normally occur at about the same
time and in about the same magnitude every year-such as
price movements resulting from normal weather patterns,
regular production and marketing cycles, model changeovers,
seasonal discounts, and holidays. For these reasons,
seasonally adjusted data more clearly reveal underlying
cyclical trends.
     Unadjusted data are of primary interest to users who
need information which can be related to actual dollar
values of transactions. Individuals requiring this
information include marketing specialists, purchasing
agents, budget and cost analysts, contract specialists, and
commodity traders. It is the unadjusted data that are
generally cited in escalating long-term contracts such as
purchasing agreements or real estate leases. (See Escalation
and Producer Price Indexes: A Guide for Contracting Parties,
BLS Report 807, September 1991, available on request from
BLS.)
     For more information, see "Appendix A: Seasonal
Adjustment Methodology at BLS," in the BLS Handbook of
Methods (September 1992), Bulletin 2414.