US PPI Comes in Hotter Than Expected

A surprising surge in the latest US Producer Price Index (PPI) has cast doubt on the Federal Reserve's expected rate cut timeline, disrupting the prevailing disinflation narrative.

Key Data

Headline PPI (MoM): +0.9% (vs. +0.2% expected)
Headline PPI (YoY): +3.3% (vs. +2.5% expected)
Core PPI (MoM): +0.9% among the largest monthly increases since March 2022

Why It Matters

PPI tracks production and supply chain costs, often signaling future consumer price trends. This sharp increase suggests that inflation, fueled partly by tariffs, remains in the economy. The data also questions earlier claims that trade measures aren’t raising costs.

Impact on the Federal Reserve

Markets expected a 91% chance of a September Fed rate cut. The hotter report may prompt traders to anticipate a slower or paused approach as inflation persists.

The jump in PPI reinforces concerns that cost increases could feed through to consumer inflation, complicating the Fed’s path toward policy easing.

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