CNN  —  US wholesale inflation slowed as expected in July, easing after an unexpected flare-up the month before. That sets the stage for an even more crucial reading on price hikes due out Wednesday. The Producer Price Index, a measurement of average price changes seen by producers and manufacturers, was 2.2% for the 12 months ended in July, a stark pullback from the 2.7% increase registered in June, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Tuesday. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.1%, a slower pace than the 0.2% increase seen in June. Economists had expected that prices would increase 0.2% on a monthly basis and slow to 2.3% annually, according to FactSet estimates. PPI serves as a potential bellwether for retail-level inflation in the months ahead. On Wednesday, the BLS will release the Consumer Price Index for July, providing a critical look at how prices are changing for consumers in their everyday lives.