Retrieving PPI data from the PPI Web site.

PPI data can be obtained from the WWW address (www.bls.gov/ppi). Clicking on the "PPI Databases" link reveals the following methods of data retrieval:

* Top Picks is a form-based application for both Industry Data and Commodity Data that allows the user to quickly obtain PPI time series data by selecting the most commonly requested time series, including the All Commodities Index and the stageof- processing indexes (for example, Finished Goods). Within each list, any one--or all--of the time series shown can be selected. A user can modify the date range and output options after executing the query, using the reformat button above the data output table.

* One-Screen Data Search and Multi-Screen Data Search are form-based query applications for both Industry Data and Commodity Data designed for users unfamiliar with the PPI coding structure. These applications guide a user through the PPI classification system by listing index titles and do not require knowledge of commodity or industry codes. Data retrieved are based on a query formulated by selecting data characteristics from lists provided. Two options are available to create customized tables, depending on a user's browser capability. The one-screen option is a JavaScript application that uses a single screen to guide a user through the available time series data. The second option is a multiplescreen, non-Java-based application. Both methods allow a user to browse the PPI coding structure and select multiple series codes. Using the one-screen option, users can modify the date range and output options after executing the query using the reformat button above the data output table.

* Series Report is a form-based application that uses formatted PPI time series identifiers (commodity or industry codes) as input in extracting data according to a specified set of date ranges and output options. This application provides the most efficient path for users who are familiar with the format of PPI time series identifiers. Up to 300 indexes can be extracted at a time.

There are five alphabetic prefixes used to create unique PPI time series identifiers: WP, WD, PC, PD, and ND. Each provides the user access to a different PPI database. Adding either a "u" (not seasonally adjusted) or an "s" (seasonally adjusted) to the end of these prefixes further specifies the type of data needed.

EXAMPLES

For commodity and stage-of-processing indexes, series identifiers combine a "wpu" prefix (not seasonally adjusted) or a "wps" prefix (seasonally adjusted) with a commodity code.

Commodity code   Provides data for:

wps141101        Passenger cars, seasonally
                 adjusted

wpu141101        Passenger cars, not
                 seasonally adjusted

wpusop3000       Finished goods, not
                 seasonally adjusted

For discontinued commodity indexes, series identifiers combine a "wdu" prefix (not seasonally adjusted) or a "wds" prefix (seasonally adjusted) with a commodity code.

Commodity code   Provides data for:

wds019           Other farm products,
                 seasonally adjusted

wdu0635          Preparations, ethical
                 (prescription), not
                 seasonally adjusted

wdusi138011      Stainless steel mill
                 products, not seasonally
                 adjusted

Current price indexes grouped by industry according to NAICS have series identifiers that begin with the prefix "pcu." After the prefix, there are 12 digits (the 6-digit industry code is listed twice) followed by up to 7 alphanumeric characters identifying product detail. Dashes are used as placeholders for higher-level industry group codes.

Industry-product code,
current NAICS series             Provides data, or:

pcu325---325---                  Chemical manufacturing,
                                 not seasonally adjusted

pcu336110336110                  Automobile and light duty
                                 motor vehicle
                                 manufacturing

pcu621111621111411               Offices of physicians,
                                 one-and two-physician
                                 practices and single-specialty
                                 group practices,
                                 general/family practice

pcu325412325412A                 Pharmaceutical
                                 preparation
                                 manufacturing,
                                 pharmaceuticals acting on
                                 the respiratory system

Discontinued industry-product codes based on SIC combine a "pdu" prefix and "#" between the fourth and fifth characters of the product code. Series identifiers for the discontinued dataset use underscores as placeholders to complete a reference to an SIC industry group code of fewer than four digits. (All PPI industry-based indexes organized by SIC were discontinued with the introduction of NAICS.)

Industry-product code,
discontinued SIC series          Provides data, or:

pdu28__#                         Chemicals and allied
                                 products, not seasonally
                                 adjusted

pdu331_#                         Blast furnaces, steel
                                 works, and rolling and
                                 finishing mills, not
                                 seasonally adjusted

pdu3711#111                      Passenger cars

Price indexes for discontinued series grouped by industry according to NAICS have identifiers that begin with the prefix "ndu." After the prefix, there are 12 numeric digits (the 6-digit industry code is listed twice), and up to 7 additional alphanumeric characters that identify product detail. Dashes are used as placeholders for higher-level industry group codes.

Industry product code,
discontinued NAICS series        Provides data for

ndu212231212231                  Lead ore and zinc
                                 ore mining

ndu2122312122312                 Lead and zinc
                                 concentrates

ndu212231212231214               Lead
                                 concentrates

* Text Files (FTP) and the FTP server are best suited for users requiring access to either a large volume of time series data or other PPI-related documentation (such as seasonal factor and relative importance tables). The FTP sites can be accessed at ftp://ftp.bls.gov or directly from the links on the "PPI Databases" page or the PPI homepage. Data and documentation available for download include the following:

                                 Directory:

Industry Data                    /pubfime.series/pc
Industry Data - Discontinued
                (NAICS basis)    /pub/time.series/nd
                (SIC basis)      /pub/time.series/pd
Commodity Data                   /pub/time.series/wp
Commodity Data - Discontinued
                 Series          /pub/time.series/wd
Special requests                 /pub/special.requests/ppi

The FTP site maintains files to help with searches and downloads. These files are centrally located in the /pub/doc directory. Within this directory, the overview.txt file contains an overview relating to all BLS data available through the FTP site. For current commodity-based PPI data, the program help file is wp.txt; for discontinued commodity series, wd.txt; for current industry-based PPI data based on NAICS, pc.txt; for industry-based SIC time series that have been discontinued, pd.txt; and for industry-based NAICS series that have been discontinued, nd.txt.

Users who prefer downloading PPI datasets as individual ZIP files should go to the directory labeled /pub/time.series/compressed/tape.format/ on the FTP site. This directory includes six PPI-specific ZIP files, one for each of the PPI databases--WP, WD, PC, ND, and PD--and a ZIP file for the annual 5-year revision to historical seasonal PPIs.