Producer Price Index Climbs 0.1%

Prices paid to U.S. producers rose 0.9% in May, the fourth consecutive increase, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The so-called “core rate” excluding food and energy rose 0.2%, Labor said.

The overall PPI increase followed a 0.7% gain in April and was higher than economists’ forecasts a 0.6% gain, Bloomberg reported. The core rate matched projections.

An increase in the PPI could indicate strong demand for goods, which would mean more shipments for trucking companies. However, if inflation begins to accelerate too quickly, it could also hurt the economy.