U.S. wholesale prices up 0.3 percent in November

U.S. wholesale prices up 0.3 percent in November
U.S. businesses paid slightly more in November for energy and wholesale goods as wholesale prices increased 0.3 percent, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

In November, the growth of the Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures price changes before they reach consumers, rose mainly because of higher food prices.

The PPI index declined 0.3 percent in October after a 0.8 percent increase in September, the department said.

Last month, energy prices edged up 0.1 percent after dropping 1.4 percent in the previous month. Food costs rose 1.0 percent in November.

Excluding the volatile food and energy sectors, the so called "core" wholesale prices rose only 0.1 percent in November than the previous month, the lowest level since May.

Over the past 12 months ending in November, wholesale prices rose 5.7 percent, the smallest year-over-year advance since a 5.6 percent rise in March 2011.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn   2011-12-15 22:54:19              
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua)