A sign at the corner of 4th and Bryant Street in San Francisco shows premium gas over $7.00 on March 26. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
April 14 (UPI) -- The producer price index for final demand goods and services rose by about half of what was expected in March despite concerns raised by the Iran war.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday that wholesale prices increased by 0.5%, down from the 0.7% rate in February. Final demand goods drove the increase as final demand services were unchanged.
Final demand goods had their largest increase since August 2023, climbing 1.6% in March. An increase in the index for energy was the biggest contributor, rising 8.5%.
Without factoring in volatile food and energy, the index increased by 0.2%.
