Wholesale Prices in U.S. Increased at Slower Pace in July

Wholesale prices in the U.S. climbed at a slower pace in July, a harbinger of things to come as energy prices plunge.

The 0.2 percent increase in the producer-price index followed a 0.4 percent gain in June, Labor Department figures showed Friday in Washington. The median forecast of 70 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.1 percent advance. Costs dropped 0.8 percent over the past 12 months.