--US April producer prices +0.3%; core rate +0.2%
--US April producer prices ex-energy +0.3%; energy prices +0.1%
--US April PPI gasoline prices +7.0%; liquefied petroleum gas -11.9%
--US April PPI natural gas prices drop record 4.3%
--US April food producer prices +0.6%; eggs +37.0%
--US April PPI capital equipment +0.3%, computers rise record 1.5%
--US April PPI passenger car prices +0.2%; pharmaceuticals +0.5%
--US April intermediate producer prices -0.2%; core -0.1%
--US April crude producer prices +0.9%; core -2.6%

By Andrew Williams
Washington, May 11 (BridgeNews) U.S. wholesale prices rose an expected 0.3% in April, as skyrocketing gasoline prices pushed the producer price index higher. Capital goods also contributed to the increase, leaving "core" wholesale prices up 0.2%, compared with expectations for a 0.1% rise.
* * * "Prices for finished energy goods led the acceleration in the finished goods index," the Labor Department said.
Energy prices rose 0.1%, as gasoline prices surged 7.0% at the producer level. Elsewhere in the energy sector heating oil rose 2.1%, but wholesale natural gas prices fell a record 4.3% and liquefied petroleum gas prices slid 11.9%.
April wholesale prices also reflected a 0.6% rise in food bills. Producer food prices have risen for three consecutive months and were led in April by a 37.0% jump in egg prices.
And "capital equipment prices also contributed to (the) acceleration" in the PPI," Labor said.
A record 1.5% rise in computer costs contributed to the slightly-higher-than-expected 0.2% rise in the PPI core rate. Moreover, costs for prescription drugs, civilian aircraft heavy trucks and alcoholic beverages alll rose 0.5%. The wholesale price of passenger cars was up 0.2%.
Despite the core rate increase, the price report will likely not be a roadblock for Federal Reserve policy makers who meet May 15 to debate interest rates. Policymakers remain focused on economic weakness--rather than inflation--as the main problem facing the economy and are expected to reduce interest rates further.
In March, wholesale prices declined 0.1% but increased 0.1% excluding the food and energy sectors.