The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.2 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This rise followed a 0.3-percent advance in April and a 1.2-percent decrease in March. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods rose 0.3 percent following a 0.5-percent decline a month earlier, and the crude goods index climbed 3.6 percent after rising 3.0 percent in April.

In May, a 2.9-percent increase in finished energy goods prices more than offset a 1.6-percent decline in the index for finished consumer foods and a 0.1-percent decrease in prices for finished goods other than foods and energy.

Before seasonal adjustment, the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.5 percent in May to 170.8 (1982 = 100). From May 2008 to May 2009, finished goods prices decreased 5.0 percent. Over the same period, the finished energy goods index fell 27.3 percent and prices for finished consumer foods declined 2.1 percent. By contrast, partially offsetting the decrease in finished goods prices, the index for finished goods less foods and energy increased 3.0 percent. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved down 12.5 percent for the 12 months ended May 2009, and the crude goods index decreased 41.1 percent.

Finished goods

The index for finished energy goods turned up 2.9 percent in May after decreasing 0.1 percent in the preceding month. Gasoline prices rose 13.9 percent following a 2.6-percent increase in April. The indexes for residential natural gas, residential electric power, and finished lubricants fell less than they had in the prior month. Prices for liquefied petroleum gas advanced more than in April. Conversely, the rise in the index for diesel fuel slowed to 4.5 percent in May from 17.0 percent a month earlier. Prices for home heating oil and kerosene also increased less than in April.

Prices for finished consumer foods fell 1.6 percent in May following a 1.5-percent advance in the prior month. The index for eggs for fresh use declined 27.0 percent after jumping 43.7 percent in April. Prices for fresh vegetables (except potatoes), raspberries, pork, soft drinks, and canned specialties also turned down in May. The index for natural cheese (except cottage cheese) fell more than in the previous month. By contrast, prices for beef and veal rose 9.2 percent in May after increasing 4.5 percent a month earlier. Prices for cooked or smoked prepared poultry products declined less than they had in April, and the index for fats and oils turned up in May.

The index for finished goods less foods and energy edged down 0.1 percent in May following a 0.1-percent increase in the prior month. Prices for pharmaceutical preparations declined 0.3 percent after rising 1.3 percent in April. The indexes for perfume, cologne, and toilet water and for household laundry equipment and parts also turned down after advancing a month earlier. Prices for light motor trucks were unchanged subsequent to increases in April.

By contrast, the increase in the index for newspaper circulation accelerated to 2.9 percent in May from 0.3 percent in the previous month. Prices for cigarettes and electronic computers were unchanged after declining in April. The indexes for apparel and other fabricated textile products and for non-wood commercial furniture turned up after falling in the preceding month.

Intermediate goods

The Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies, and Components moved up 0.3 percent in May following a 0.5-percent decline in April. The indexes for intermediate energy goods and for intermediate foods and feeds increased more than in the previous month. Prices for materials for both nondurable and durable manufacturing, as well as for materials and components for construction, declined less than in April. Excluding foods and energy, the index for intermediate goods moved down 0.2 percent in May subsequent to a 0.9-percent decrease in the prior month.

The index for intermediate energy goods advanced 2.0 percent in May after rising 0.7 percent in April. Prices for liquefied petroleum gas climbed 8.6 percent compared with a 5.0-percent gain a month earlier. The increase in the index for gasoline also accelerated in May. Prices for utility natural gas, industrial electric power, and finished lubricants declined less than they had in the previous month. Conversely, partially offsetting the acceleration in the intermediate energy goods index, the increase in the index for diesel fuel slowed to 4.5 percent from 17.0 percent in April. Prices for heating oil also rose less than in the preceding month. The index for jet fuel turned down in May, and prices for commercial electric power fell more than in April.

Prices for materials for nondurable manufacturing moved down 0.3 percent in May following a 1.9-percent decrease in the previous month. The index for phosphates declined 2.0 percent after dropping 31.6 percent in April. Prices for primary basic organic chemicals and for medicinal and botanical chemicals turned up in May after falling a month earlier. The indexes for thermoplastic resins and basic inorganic chemicals declined less than in the preceding month. By contrast, prices for synthetic fibers decreased 5.3 percent compared with a 6.6-percent increase in April. The indexes for thermosetting resins, synthetic rubber, and nitrogenates turned down as well.

The index for materials for durable manufacturing declined 0.6 percent in May subsequent to a 2.1-percent decrease in April. Prices for hot rolled steel sheet and strip moved down 4.9 percent following a 13.2-percent drop in the prior month. Prices for hot rolled steel bars, plates, and structural shapes; steel pipe and tube; and basic inorganic chemicals also fell less in May. The index for primary nonferrous metals turned up after declining in April. By contrast, the index for copper and brass mill shapes advanced 0.8 percent compared with a 19.5-percent jump in April. Prices for nonferrous wire and cable also increased less than in the previous month. The indexes for synthetic fibers and unfinished softwood lumber (not made from purchased materials) turned down in May after rising a month earlier.

Prices for materials and components for construction inched down 0.1 percent compared with a 0.9-percent drop in April. The index for prefabricated metal buildings moved down 0.7 percent in May following a 6.2-percent decline in the previous month. The indexes for plastic construction products and for steel pipe and tube also declined less in May. Prices for prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding products, paving mixtures and blocks, and ready-mixed concrete rose after falling a month earlier. By contrast, prices for nonferrous wire and cable advanced 2.0 percent subsequent to an 8.3-percent gain in April. The index for fabricated structural metal fell more than in the prior month. Prices for unfinished softwood lumber (not made from purchased materials) and for architectural and ornamental metalwork turned down in May.

The increase in the index for intermediate foods and feeds accelerated to 1.3 percent in May from 0.3 percent in the previous month. Prices for prepared animal feeds advanced 3.5 percent after rising 0.2 percent in April. The index for beef and veal also increased more than a month earlier. Prices for fats and oils and for flour turned up in May after falling in the preceding month. The index for cooked or smoked prepared poultry products declined less than it had in the prior month. By contrast, prices for pork dropped 4.3 percent following a 2.5- percent increase in April. The index for natural cheese (except cottage cheese) fell more in May than in the preceding month. Prices for bulk fluid milk and cream were unchanged after climbing in April, and the index for soft drinks turned down subsequent to an increase in the prior month.

Crude goods

The Producer Price Index for Crude Materials for Further Processing increased 3.6 percent in May after rising 3.0 percent in April. Prices for crude nonfood materials less energy moved up after declining a month earlier, and the index for crude energy materials advanced more than it had in April. By contrast, partially offsetting the acceleration in prices for crude goods, the index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs increased less in May than it had in the prior month.

The index for crude nonfood materials less energy rose 6.7 percent in May after declining 0.6 percent in April. Leading this upturn, prices for carbon steel scrap climbed 20.6 percent compared with a 12.6-percent decrease in the previous month. The indexes for gold ores, hides and skins, and wheat also turned up in May. Prices for corn, copper ores, and aluminum base scrap increased more than they had a month earlier. The phosphates index declined less than it had in April. Conversely, the index for copper base scrap moved up 7.5 percent subsequent to a 29.5-percent surge in the prior month. Prices for raspberries turned down in May after rising a month earlier.

Prices for crude energy materials moved up 5.3 percent following a 2.9-percent increase in April. Leading this acceleration, the crude petroleum index surged 18.6 percent in May following a 9.2-percent rise in the prior month. By contrast, prices for natural gas declined 5.7 percent subsequent to a 3.1-percent decrease a month earlier. The coal index advanced 2.0 percent compared with a 3.9-percent increase in April.

The index for crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs moved up 0.4 percent in May following a 4.6-percent advance in the preceding month. Soybean prices rose 9.8 percent after climbing 16.7 percent a month earlier. Prices for slaughter cattle, fluid milk, fresh vegetables (except potatoes), raspberries, and ungraded chicken eggs turned down in May. The index for slaughter barrows and gilts fell more than in the preceding month. Conversely, corn prices increased 10.7 percent following a 1.5-percent advance in April. The index for slaughter chickens also rose more than it had in the prior month. Prices for wheat turned up in May.