U.S. producer prices fell more than expected last month, leading to the largest annual decline since 2015, which could bolster some economists’ predictions for a brief period of deflation as the novel coronavirus depresses demand.
Figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Labor Department revealed the producer price index for final demand tumbled 1.3% last month after slipping 0.2% in March. In the 12 months through April, the PPI decreased 1.2%. That was the biggest decline since November 2015 and followed a 0.7% increase in March.
Economists had forecast the PPI falling 0.5% in April and falling 0.2% on a year-on-year basis.
