CHICAGO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange ended slightly lower on Tuesday as gloomy retail data and a big drop in producer price reduced the inflation risk. Silver and platinum went down, too.

    Gold price for June delivery lost 3.80 U.S. dollars, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 892 dollars an ounce, failing to challenge the key level of 900 dollars.

    After two consecutive months of gains, the producer price index(PPI) fell 1.2 percent in March, mostly driven by declining energy prices, according to a report released by the Labor Department.

    The weaker PPI as well as an unexpected drop of 1.1 percent in retail sales for March, are both considered to foretell a lower inflation risk, which will reduce gold's safety appeal.

    Signs that the economic crisis may have gone out of the worst situation also pressured on the precious metal.

    Following Wells Fargo's bullish profit anticipation, Goldman Sachs fueled hopes that the financial crisis may have bottomed by indicating on Monday that both its profit and revenue rose in first quarter.

    Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke said on Tuesday there are signs that the "sharp decline" in the economy may be easing, citing home and car sales.

    May silver finished at 12.765 dollars per ounce, down 0.3 cent. July platinum dropped 28.70 dollars to 1,218.30 dollars per ounce.