HOUSTON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand advanced 0.2 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.
Final demand prices rose 0.4 percent in January and were unchanged in December. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index increased 2.8 percent for the 12 months ended in February.
In February, the rise in final demand prices is attributable to a 0.3-percent advance in the index for final demand services. In contrast, prices for final demand goods edged down 0.1 percent.
The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services, climbed 0.4 percent in February, the same as in January. For the 12 months ending in February, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services, increased 2.7 percent, the largest rise since 12-month percent change data were available in August 2014.
Prices for final demand services moved up 0.3 percent in February, the same as in January. Most of the February advance can be traced to the index for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing, which increased 0.3 percent. Prices for final demand transportation and warehousing services also moved higher, rising 0.9 percent.
Prices for final demand goods edged down 0.1 percent in February, the first decline since falling 0.5 percent in May 2017. In February, a 0.4-percent decrease in the index for final demand foods and a 0.5-percent decline in prices for final demand energy slightly outweighed a 0.2-percent increase in the index for final demand goods less foods and energy.
