U.S. PPI for final demand increases 0.3 pct in March

HOUSTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand advanced 0.3 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.

Final demand prices rose 0.2 percent in February and 0.4 percent in January. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index increased 3.0 percent for the 12 months ended in March.

In March, the rise in final demand prices is attributable to a 0.3-percent advance in the index for final demand services. The index for final demand goods also climbed 0.3 percent.

The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services, rose 0.4 percent in March, the same as in both January and February. For the 12 months ending in March, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services, increased 2.9 percent, the largest rise since 12-month percent change data were available in August 2014.

Prices for final demand services moved up 0.3 percent in March, the same as in January and February. Most of the March advance can be traced to the index for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing, which climbed 0.3 percent. Prices for final demand transportation and warehousing services also moved higher, rising 0.6 percent.

Prices for final demand goods moved up 0.3 percent in March after edging down 0.1 percent in February. In March, Most of the increase can be traced to prices for final demand foods, which advanced 2.2 percent. The index for final demand goods less foods and energy climbed 0.3 percent. Conversely, prices for final demand energy declined 2.1 percent. Enditem