Producer Prices Fall in April

Washington, DC, May 11, 2012 — U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in April on lower energy costs, according to the Labor Department.

The government said its seasonally adjusted producer price index dropped 0.2% last month. That was the first drop of the year and the biggest decline since October.

Economists had expected prices to be flat.

The decline left wholesale prices 1.9% higher in April than a year ago.