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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

BLS: Producer Price Index unchanged in August

by Calculated Risk on 9/16/2014 09:17:00 AM

From the BLS:

The Producer Price Index for final demand was unchanged in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices advanced 0.1 percent in July and 0.4 percent in June. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand increased 1.8 percent for the 12 months ended in August.
...
The index for final demand goods moved down 0.3 percent in August, the largest decrease since a 0.7-percent drop in April 2013. Over 80 percent of the August decline is attributable to prices for final demand energy, which fell 1.5 percent. The index for final demand foods decreased 0.5 percent. Prices for final demand goods less foods and energy were unchanged.
emphasis added
This was slightly lower than expectations, and was mostly due to a decline in energy products. However this is another indicator a low level of inflation.