Producer Price Index Unchanged; Core Rate Rises

Prices paid to U.S. producers were little changed in March, but the core rate excluding food and fuel rose, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The unchanged producer price index followed a 0.4% increase in February, which had been the largest gain in five months.

The so-called core PPI excluding food and energy rose 0.3%, following a 0.2% rise, Labor said.

The overall PPI rate was within economists’ forecasts, while the core rate matched projections, Bloomberg reported.

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, it could also hurt the economy.