U.S. PPI for final demand grows 0.4 pct in January: report

HOUSTON, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand increased 0.4 percent in January, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.

Final demand prices were unchanged in December and moved up 0.4 percent in November. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index rose 2.7 percent for the 12 months ended in January.

In January, the rise in the index for final demand was attributable to a 0.3-percent increase in prices for final demand services and a 0.7-percent advance in the index for final demand goods.

The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.4 percent in January, the largest advance since increasing 0.5 percent in April 2017. For the 12 months ended in January, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services moved up 2.5 percent, the largest rise since 12-month percent change data were available in August 2014.

Within intermediate demand in January, prices for processed goods increased 0.7 percent, the index for unprocessed goods advanced 0.9 percent, and prices for services edged up 0.1 percent.

Prices for services for intermediate demand inched up 0.1 percent in January following no change in December. Leading the increase, the index for services less trade, transportation, and warehousing for intermediate demand advanced 0.1 percent.

Prices for transportation and warehousing services for intermediate demand rose 0.3 percent. Conversely, margins for trade services for intermediate demand declined 0.3 percent.

For the 12 months ended in January, the index for services for intermediate demand climbed 2.9 percent. Enditem