Jan 19, 2023

December Producer Price Index declines

Posted Jan 19, 2023 5:01 PM

The Producer Price Index for final demand declined 0.5 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.

The index measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output.

Final demand prices advanced 0.2 percent in November and 0.4 percent in October.

The index for final demand increased 6.2 percent in 2022 after rising 10.0 percent in 2021. Prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services edged up 0.1 percent in December, up 4.6 percent in 2022, following a seven percent rise in 2021.

Nearly half of the December decrease for final demand goods can be traced to a 13.4-percent decline in prices for gasoline.

The indexes for diesel fuel, jet fuel, fresh and dry vegetables, canned, cooked, smoked, or prepared poultry, and basic organic chemicals also fell. In contrast, prices for carbon steel scrap increased 8.3 percent. The indexes for chicken eggs and for electric power also moved higher.