Producer Prices Edge Higher in March

Washington, DC, April 14, 2011 -- U.S. producer prices rose slightly faster than expected in March, according to the Labor Department.

The government said on Thursday its seasonally adjusted index for prices paid at the farm and factory, excluding volatile food and energy costs, rose 0.3 percent after gaining 0.2 percent in February.

Economists had expected core PPI to rise 0.2 percent in March.

Light trucks prices, which advanced 0.7 percent, accounted for a third of the rise.

In the 12 months to March, the core producer price index rose 1.9 percent, the biggest increase since August 2009.