The US Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 1.4% in January, seasonally adjusted, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today (18 February).
This increase followed a 0.4% advance in December and a 1.5% rise in November.
In January, at the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods climbed 1.7%, and the crude goods index jumped 9.6%.
On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods moved up 4.6% for the 12 months ended January 2010, their third consecutive 12-month increase.
About two-thirds of the January advance can be attributed to an 11.5% jump in gasoline prices.
Increases in the indexes for liquefied petroleum gas and home heating oil also were major factors in the finished energy goods rise.
