Producer Price Index Unchanged in July

Prices paid to U.S. producers were unchanged in July, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

The flat producer price index reading followed a 0.8% rise in June. Economists had forecast a 0.3% increase, Bloomberg News reported.

The so-called core PPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.1%, less than the 0.2% forecast.

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.