Long Term Perspective
The PPI for finished goods has expanded more rapidly than the CPI on a year-over-year basis throughout 2000. This isn't unusual from an historical perspective when prices of volatile goods such as food and energy are the primary culprits of the price hike. That is the case in 2000 - as oil prices have posted larger gains in the PPI than in the CPI.

Short Term Perspective
Price gains for the CPI and PPI were more evenly matched than usual through May (except for January 2001); in the past couple of months, the PPI show more marked improvement. Lower energy prices helped dampen the PPI more dramatically than the CPI between June and November.

PPI: Intermediate vs. Crude Materials   •   Excluding Food & Energy Prices: Intermediate vs. Crude   •   CPI vs. PPI - Finished Goods

Excluding Food & Energy Prices : CPI vs. PPI   •   Employment Cost Index vs. Wages & Salaries   •   Alternative Inflation Measures