Producer Price Index Rises in June

Prices paid to U.S. producers rose 0.8% in June, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The rise in the producer price index followed a 0.5% rise in May. The so-called core PPI, which excludes food and energy, increased 0.2%, Labor said.

The rise in the PPI was higher than economists’ median forecast of a 0.5% rise, Bloomberg News reported. The core rate was forecast to rise 0.1%.

An increase in the PPI could indicate strong demand for goods, which would mean more shipments for trucking companies. However, if inflation begins to accelerate too quickly, the economy could be hurt.