Wholesale prices rose less than expected in December, a positive sign for the economy amid recent market fears that inflation isn't falling as quickly as hoped to the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Tuesday's report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that its producer price index (PPI) — which tracks the price changes companies see — rose 3.

U.S. producer prices rose less than expected in December as higher costs for goods were partially offset by stable services prices, suggesting inflation remained on a downward trend after progress had stalled in recent months.

Wholesale prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in December, half of what Wall Street forecasters believe would jump while the rate for the core producer price index over the same period remained flat,

The December figure marked a deceleration from monthly producer-price increases in November, when prices rose by 0.4%.