I Producer prices in the US have fallen unexpectedly in February for the fourth consecutive month. Last month the decline on a cyclical basis was 0,5% compared to the +0,3% of consensus expectations, while on a trend level (on an annual basis) the decrease was 0,6%.
The unexpectedly negative trend in the producer price index follows a 0,8% decline the previous month, the report released today by the Labor Department showed. The "core" producer prices, i.e the index stripped out of the more volatile changes in food and energy prices, instead remained unchanged last month. But even then, experts had expected an increase of 0,1%. Core producer prices rose 0,7% year over year.
