US producer prices fell in December for the third consecutive month, bringing a closely watched gauge of inflation to a rate more in line with pre-pandemic times.
Wholesale inflation as measured by the Producer Price Index rose 1% annually in December, up slightly from November’s revised 0.8% reading, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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PPI is a closely watched inflation gauge since it captures average price shifts before they reach consumers and serves as a potential signal for the prices consumers ultimately end up paying.
This isn’t measuring what a consumer’s bill will look like at Costco or BJ’s, it’s a measure of how expensive it is for retailers to stock their shelves.
Good point.
The December '22 - December '23 CPI, which more accurately reflects consumer prices, was 3.4%. Not great, not terrible.