Weak oil, food prices dampen U.S. imported inflation

WASHINGTON — U.S. producer prices recorded their largest drop in three years in April as gasoline and food costs tumbled, pointing to weak inflation pressures that should give the Federal Reserve latitude to keep monetary policy very accommodative. The Labor Department said on Wednesday its seasonally adjusted producer price index fell 0.7% last month, the biggest decline since February 2010. Wholesale prices had dropped 0.6% in March.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Import prices in April recorded their largest drop in 10 months as energy costs tumbled, according to a government report on Thursday that also showed tame underlying inflation pressures from imports. Overall import prices fell 0.5 percent, the Labor Department said. March's data was revised to show a 1.5 percent increase rather than the previously reported 1.3 percent gain. Economists polled by Reuters had expected prices to fall 0.2 percent last month. In the 12 months to April, import prices increased 0.5 percent, the weakest reading since October 2009. ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Import prices recorded the biggest drop in five months in November a

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Import prices rose in February on sharply higher petroleum costs, but there were little signs of underlying imported inflation pressures as food prices posted their largest decline in three years. Overall import prices rose 0.4 percent, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. January's data was revised to show a flat reading instead of the previously reported 0.3 percent increase. Economists polled by Reuters had expected prices to rise 0.6 percent last month. The dollar fell 1. ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Import prices fell in April due to a drop in oil costs, a positive sign for house

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. import prices fell in March as weak petroleum costs offset a spike in food prices, according to a government report on Thursday that pointed to benign inflation pressures. Import prices slipped 0.5 percent last month, the Labor Department said. February's data was revised to show a 0.6 percent rise instead of the previously reported 1.1 percent increase. Economists polled by Reuters had expected prices to fall 0.5 percent last month. In the 12 months to February, import prices dropped 2.7 percent. Stripping out petroleum, import prices dipped 0. ...

WASHINGTON — U.S. wholesale prices fell for the third month in a row last month, pushed down by falling food and gas costs. The drop is the latest evidence inflation is tame. The producer price index dropped 0.2 percent in December, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That follows a decline of 0.8 percent in November. The index measures price changes before they reach the consumer. Wholesale prices rose 1.3 percent in 2012, much lower than the 4.7 percent increase in 2011. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core wholesale prices ticked up 0.1 percent in December.

WASHINGTON — U.S. wholesale prices fell for the third month in a row last month, pushed down by falling food and gas costs. The drop is the latest evidence inflation is tame. The producer price index dropped 0.2 percent in December, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That follows a decline of 0.8 percent in November. The index measures price changes before they reach the consumer. Wholesale prices rose 1.3 percent in 2012, much lower than the 4.7 percent increase in 2011. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core wholesale prices ticked up 0.1 percent in December.