Let $A,B,C$ be local artinian rings and $p : A \to C, q : B \to C$ local homomorphisms. Why is the fiber product $A \times_C B$ again a local artinian ring?
It is easy to see that $P:=A \times_C B$ is a local ring with maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}_P=pr_A^{-1}(\mathfrak{m}_A) = pr_B^{-1}(\mathfrak{m}_B)$. Since some power of $\mathfrak{m}_A$ vanishes, the same is true for $\mathfrak{m}_P$. Thus it suffices to prove that $\mathfrak{m}_P$ is finitely generated. But I don't know how to find generators. Is this true at all?
Remark: This is used (without proof) in Schlessinger's article "Functors on Artin rings".