Producer price index

The U.S. Labor Department is scheduled to release the producer price index for May today.

The PPI for finished goods measures average changes in prices for commodities that will not undergo further processing and are ready for sale to the final user, be that an individual consumer or business. This look at wholesale prices is designed to measures inflation pressures before they reach consumers.

The PPI edged up just 0.1 percent in April, held down by a big drop in food costs. It was the smallest gain in four months.