Long Term Perspective
Prices will increase or decrease at earlier stages of production before consumers pay more (less) for finished goods. Changes in prices of food and energy products tend to overshadow changes in prices of other goods. Intermediate goods price gains peaked in 2000 while prices for crude materials were still accelerating until early 2001. Both indices declined in 2001.

Short Term Perspective
Rising energy prices have caused the intermediate and crude materials price indexes to post smaller and smaller yearly declines through September and finally post a yearly rise in October.

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