American Wholesale Prices Flat

The U.S. Producer Price Index was unchanged from February to March as the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel fell 2% and 6.3%, respectively, the Dept. of Labor reports.

The index is 2.8% higher than in March 2011 the smallest year-over-year increase since June 2010. Economists say easing costs mean less pressure on companies to hike the prices they charge consumers.

The core index, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% month over month, in part because car and light truck prices rose 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. The core index in March was 2.9% higher than a year earlier.