Wholesale inflation unexpectedly falls 0.1% in February

Inflation at the wholesale level posted a surprise decline in February, a sign that painfully high consumer prices are beginning to loosen their stranglehold on the U.S. economy.

The Labor Department said Wednesday that its producer price index, which measures inflation at the wholesale level before it reaches consumers, fell 0.1% in February from the previous month. On an annual basis, prices are up 4.6%.

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