For all of 1994, producer prices were up just 1.7 percent.

We have producer prices that were around 40% and are now coming under some pressure again.

Producer prices advanced in May for the third straight month.

Over the last 12 months, producer prices have risen just 1.5 percent.

For the year so far, producer prices have risen even less.

On the other hand, it has also come from farmers, whose producer prices have gone down.

"The increase in producer prices looks worse than it actually is," he said.

Only three months ago, producer prices were rising at a 3.7 percent annual rate.

Indeed, low producer prices are at the heart of the shortage.

Producer prices fell in March for the fourth straight month.