The Labor
Department announced on Friday the U.S. producer-price index (PPI) was unchanged m-o-m in September,
following an unrevised 0.2 per cent m-o-m
increase in August.
For the 12
months through September, the PPI jumped by 1.8 per cent, slightly easing from an upwardly revised 1.9 per cent climb (from +1.7 per cent) in
the previous month. This marked the weakest annual gain since February (+1.6 per cent).
Economists had anticipated
the headline PPI would advance 0.1 per cent m-o-m and 1.6 per cent over the
past 12 months.
According to
the report, the September flat m-o-m
performance of the headline index reflected a 0.2-per cent m-o-m rise in the
index for final demand services, which was offset by a 0.2-per cent m-o-m drop in
prices for final demand goods.
Excluding
volatile prices for food and energy, the PPI went up 0.2 per cent m-o-m and
soared 2.8 per cent over 12 months, recording its strongest annual rise in three
months.
Economists had forecast increases of 0.2 per cent m-o-m and 2.7 per cent y-o-y
for September. In August, the core PPI showed a 0.3 per cent m-o-m gain and a 2.4 per cent y-o-y climb.