Overall, the producer-price index has climbed by 3.2% over the past 12 months, cooler than the revised 12-month figure from a month ago.

The decline adds to signs that price pressures are abating, a development that raises the prospect that the Federal Reserve will ease monetary policy sooner.

The Consumer Price Index for February rose by 0.2 percent (expectations of 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent) last month. Click to read.

The producer price index was expected to increase 0.3% in February, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.

President Donald Trump has since announced sweeping tariffs on the country’s biggest trading partners, which are set to raise prices of imported goods in ...