Little Inflation Expected in Reports

Price reports for June, due out this week, are expected to show scant signs of inflation in the U.S. economy. The producer price index, to be released by the Labor Department on Wednesday, and the consumer price index, due out Thursday, probably registered gains of 0.1% for June, analysts said. Outside of food and energy, the so-called core rate of the PPI probably increased 0.1% in June, and the core rate of the CPI probably rose 0.2%, according to most analysts.

Other economic reports this week:

* Washington: The Commerce Department reports Tuesday on manufacturers’ and retailers’ profits for the first quarter.

* LJR Redbook Research service Tuesday releases its weekly survey of total sales at more than 20 department, discount and chain stores in the U.S.

* The Commerce Department Wednesday reports retail sales for June.

* The Labor Department Thursday releases weekly unemployment claims.