PPI: Headline Down 0.6%; Core Prices Up 0.1%

In February, the Producer Price Index for finished goods fell 0.6%, following a large increase of 1.4% in January. The volatility over these two months has largely been driven by changes in energy prices. The PPI has increased quickly in recent months and has been very volatile largely due to swings in energy prices. The core index, which excludes prices of food and energy products, rose 0.1% over the month. From a year prior, the top line index was 4.5% higher, lower than January’s year-over-year increase of 5.0%, but still a reverse from a negative change as recently as last October. The core index was 0.9% higher from a year earlier.

	Feb	Jan	Dec	Nov	Oct	Sep
Headline Index
M/M % Change	-0.6	1.4	0.4	1.7	0.2	-0.7
Y/Y % Change	4.5	5.0	4.5	2.2	- 2.3	- 4.9
Core Prices
M/M % Change	0.1	0.3	0.0	0.5	-0.5	-0.2
Y/Y % Change	0.9	1.0	0.9	1.2	0.7	1.7

10.03.17 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

PPI: Headline Up 0.2 Percent; Core Prices Unchanged

In December, the Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 0.2 percent, following a large jump of 1.8 percent in November. The PPI has been very volatile in recent months largely due to swings in energy prices. Still, from a year prior, producer prices were 4.7 percent higher, a sharp acceleration from a year-over year decline as recently as October. The core index, which excludes prices of food and energy products, was unchanged over the month. From a year prior, it was 0.9 percent higher.

At earlier stages of production, core intermediate goods prices rose 0.5 percent but were 0.2 percent lower than a year prior. At even earlier stages of production, the commodity heavy crude core goods index rose 5.0 percent and was up 28.4 percent from a year prior.

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Audio of the press conference for last week’s ABA Economic Advisory Committee meeting is now available online. It can be found here. The press release is available here. The committee’s semi-annual economic forecast is available here (pdf).

PPI: Headline Up 1.4 Percent; Core Prices Up 0.3 Percent

In January, the Producer Price Index for finished goods jumped upwards 1.4 percent, following an increase of 0.4 percent in December. The PPI has increased quickly in recent months and has been very volatile largely due to swings in energy prices. From a year prior, producer prices were 5.0 percent higher, a sharp acceleration from a year-over year decline as recently as October. The core index, which excludes prices of food and energy products, rose by a lesser 0.3 percent over the month. From a year prior, it was 1.0 percent higher.

At earlier stages of production, core intermediate goods prices rose 0.5 percent and was 1.1 percent higher than a year prior. At even earlier stages of production, the commodity heavy crude core goods index rose 6.6 percent and was up 35.1 percent from a year prior.

	Jan	Dec	Nov	Oct	Sep	Aug
Headline Index
M/M % Change	1.4	0.4	1.5	0.4	-0.5	1.5
Y/Y % Change	5	4.7	2.5	-1.9	-4.8	-4.3
Core Prices
M/M % Change	0.3	0	0.5	-0.5	-0.1	0.3
Y/Y % Change	1	0.9	1.1	0.7	1.8	2.3