U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in September, leading to the smallest annual increase in nearly three years. The producer price index dropped 0.3 percent last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said yesterday. That was the largest decline since January and followed a 0.1 percent gain in August.
In the 12 months through September the PPI increased 1.4 percent, which is the smallest gain since November 2016. It had risen 1.8 percent in August; the Fed's target inflation rate is 2 percent. Excluding the volatile food, energy and trade services components, producer prices were unchanged in September.
Wholesale prices for goods fell 0.4 percent, with three-quarters of the decline reflecting the lower cost of gasoline. Wholesale food prices rose 0.3 percent, however.
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