PPI rises less than was expected

The producer price index edged up a weaker-than-expected 0.2% last month, reflecting reduced gasoline prices at the producer level.
MAY 20, 2008
The producer price index, a key measure of the nation’s agricultural and factory business, edged up a weaker-than-expected 0.2% last month, reflecting reduced gasoline prices at the producer level, the Department of Labor reported today. Economists polled by Reuters had forecasted that producer prices would rise 0.4%. Energy prices dropped 2% last month, with gasoline prices at the producer level falling 4.6% for the month, but they are still up 23% from the comparable period a year earlier. The core PPI, which excludes volatile food and energy costs from the calculation, rose 0.4% last month from March, and 3% from the comparable period a year earlier, marking the largest 12-month increase since 1991. Food prices were unchanged for the month, though the costs of rice jumped 17.4% — the largest increase since 1993. In March, the PPI increased 1.1%, while the core index rose 0.2%.

Latest News

SEC to lose Hester Peirce, deepening a commissioner crisis
SEC to lose Hester Peirce, deepening a commissioner crisis

The "Crypto Mom" departure would leave the SEC commission with just two members and no Democratic commissioners on the panel.

Florida B-D, RIA owner pitches bold long-term plan to sell to advisors
Florida B-D, RIA owner pitches bold long-term plan to sell to advisors

IFP Securities’ owner, Bill Hamm, has a long-term plan for the firm and its 279 financial advisors.

Fintech bytes: Vanilla, Wealth.com forge new estate planning partnerships
Fintech bytes: Vanilla, Wealth.com forge new estate planning partnerships

Meanwhile, a Osaic and Envestnet ink a new adaptive wealthtech partnership to better support the firm's 10,000-plus advisors, and RIA-focused VastAdvisor unveils native integrations with leading CRMs.

Fiduciary failure: Ex-advisor who sold practice fined after clients lost millions
Fiduciary failure: Ex-advisor who sold practice fined after clients lost millions

A former Alabama investment advisor and ex-Kestra rep has been permanently barred and penalized after clients he promised to protect got caught in a $2.6 million fraud.

Why the evolution of ETFs is changing the due diligence equation
Why the evolution of ETFs is changing the due diligence equation

As more active strategies get packaged into the ETF wrapper, advisors and investors have to look beyond expense ratios as the benchmark for value.

SPONSORED Are hedge funds the missing ingredient?

Wellington explores how multi strategy hedge funds may enhance diversification

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management