Producer prices continue on downward course

Lest the drop in inflation over the months leading up to the presidential election appear to be a mirage, a sign of future inflation has dipped again. Producer (wholesale) prices fell 0.2 percent in October for the third month.

The Labor Department attributed the decline mostly to lower seasonally adjusted prices for 1985 cars and trucks. Offsetting this somewhat, gasoline and heating oil prises rose, after four months of declines. After seasonal adjustment, the producer price index stood at 290.9. Goods costing $100 in 1967 cost $290.90 last month.