PPI for finished goods has largest increase since June 2009

The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 1.6 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This increase followed advances of 0.8 percent in January and 0.9 percent in December. It also marks the largest increase in finished goods prices since a 1.9-percent advance in June 2009.

At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 2 percent, and the crude goods index climbed 3.4 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 5.6 percent for the 12 months ended February 2011, the largest 12-month increase since a 5.9 –percent rise in March 2010.

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