Wholesale inflation unexpectedly fell in August, with prices declining for the first time in four months. The producer price index (PPI) for final demand dropped 0.1% month-over-month after a downwardly revised 0.7% increase in July. This was well below the expected 0.3% monthly growth. On an annual basis, headline PPI increased 2.6% year-over-year, a slowdown from 3.1% in July and lower than the expected 3.3% growth. Core PPI, which excludes food and energy prices, was down 0.1% month-over-month after a downwardly revised 0.7% increase in July. This was well below the expected 0.3% monthly growth. On an annual basis ... (full story)