The Producer Price Index for final demand edged down 0.1 percent in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices advanced 0.7 percent in July and 0.1 percent in June. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand rose 2.6 percent for the 12 months ended in August. The August decrease in the final demand index is attributable to a 0.2-percent decline in prices for final demand services. In contrast, the index for final demand goods inched up 0.1 percent. Prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.3 percent in August, ... (full story)

Wholesale prices surprisingly fell slightly in August, providing breathing room for the Federal Reserve to approve an interest rate cut at its meeting this month, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report Wednesday. The producer price index, which measures input costs across a broad array of goods and services, fell 0.1% for the month, after a sharp increase in July and well off the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.3% increase. Core PPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also was off 0.1% after being expected to increase 0.3% as well. The release comes a week ahead of when the central bank’s Federal ... (full story)