The Producer Price Index for final demand fell 0.1 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices moved down 0.1 percent in November and 0.4 percent in October. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand rose 1.0 percent in 2023 after increasing 6.4 percent in 2022. The December decrease in the index for final demand is attributable to a 0.4-percent drop in prices for final demand goods. The index for final demand services was unchanged. The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.2 percent in ... (full story)

Wholesale inflation, as measured by the producer price index, ticked up slightly to 1% for the year ending in December as the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates high. The new numbers were released on Friday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The December increase came after an 0.8% annual increase the month before. Most forecasters anticipated a slight uptick in wholesale inflation in December. On a month-to-month basis, the wholesale price index fell by a tenth of a percentage point. The new wholesale inflation numbers come a day after the more-closely-watched consumer price index report for December was ... (full story)