U.S. wholesale prices climbed modestly in April, given relief by subdued food and energy costs, but the core rate of inflation rose at twice the rate expected on Wall Street.

The producer price index for finished goods rose 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis after a 1.1% increase in March, the U.S. Labor Department reported today Tuesday.

The core index, which excludes food and energy items, climbed by 0.4% last month, seasonally adjusted. It rose 0.2% in March and rose 0.5% during February. Prices further down the pipeline eased during April.

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had called for a 0.4% increase in the overall index for April and a 0.2% increase in the core index.

In the 12 months ending in April, producer prices climbed 6.5% on an unadjusted basis. In the 12 months ending in March, prices were up 6.9%.

The PPI data showed energy prices in the wholesale sector decreased 0.2% last month, after rising 2.9% in March. Gasoline last month fell 4.6%. Residential natural gas was up 5.4%.

Food prices were flat in April, after rising 1.2% in March.