The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.3 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices were unchanged in June and declined 0.3 percent in May. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand advanced 0.8 percent for the 12 months ended in July. In July, the increase in final demand prices was led by a 0.5-percent rise in the index for final demand services. Prices for final demand goods edged up 0.1 percent. The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services moved up 0.2 percent in July, the largest ... (full story)

Inflation, as measured by the producer price index, ticked up to 0.8% for the year ending in July, a month after nearly flatlining. The new numbers were released on Friday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Most economists had expected there to be an increase after annual wholesale inflation clocked in at an ultra-low 1% in June. The increase is one indication that some of the country’s inflationary pressures are still holding up to some degree against the Federal Reserve’s campaign to slow economywide spending by hiking interest rates. On a month-to-month basis, the wholesale price index increased by 0.3%. Friday ... (full story)