HOUSTON, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand advanced 0.1 percent in June, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday.
Final demand prices moved up 0.1 percent in May and 0.2 percent in April. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index increased by 1.7 percent for the 12 months ending in June, the lowest rate of increase since advancing 1.7 percent in January 2017.
Leading the June rise in the index for final demand, prices for final demand services increased 0.4 percent, the largest increase since climbing 0.8 percent in October 2018. Most of the June advance is attributable to margins for final demand trade services, which moved up 1.3 percent.
Over a quarter of the June increase in prices for final demand services can be traced to margins for fuels and lubricants retailing, which jumped 12.2 percent.
In contrast, prices for final demand goods fell 0.4 percent in June, the largest decrease since falling 0.6 percent in January. The June decline is attributable to a 3.1-percent drop in the index for final demand energy. Conversely, prices for final demand foods climbed 0.6 percent.
Nearly 60 percent of the June decrease in the index for final demand goods can be traced to a 5.0-percent decline in prices for gasoline.
The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services was unchanged in June, following advances of 0.4 percent in both April and May. For the 12 months ended in June, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services climbed 2.1 percent. Enditem
