The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.7 percent in August, seasonally adjusted, after rising 0.4 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) The August advance is the largest increase in final demand prices since moving up 0.9 percent in June 2022. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand rose 1.6 percent for the 12 months ended in August. In August, 80 percent of the rise in final demand prices is attributable to a 2.0-percent jump in the index for final demand goods. Prices for final demand services advanced 0.2 percent. The index for final demand ... (full story)

Inflation at the wholesale level rose more than expected in August, countering recent data showing that price increases have tempered lately. The producer price index, a measure of what producers get for their goods and services, increased a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in August and 1.6% on a year-over-year basis, the U.S. Department of Labor reported. That monthly gain was above the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.4% increase. However, excluding food and energy, PPI increased 0.2%, in line with the estimate. Excluding food, energy and trade services, PPI increased 0.3%. The data comes a day after the more closely followed ... (full story)