Wholesale prices rose 0.2% in March, less than expected

Wholesale inflation, as measured by the Producer Price Index (PPI), rose less than expected in March, providing some relief from concerns over persistently high inflation.

The PPI increased by 0.2% for the month, below the estimated 0.3%.

However, on a year-over-year basis, the PPI climbed 2.1%, indicating ongoing inflationary pressures in the supply chain.

The increase was driven by service prices, which rose 0.3%, with securities brokerage and investment-related fees seeing a significant jump.

In contrast, goods prices fell 0.1%, with energy costs contributing to the decline.

Despite the wholesale price index showing signs of moderation, consumer prices continued to rise at a faster-than-expected pace in March, raising concerns about the Federal Reserve’s ability to bring inflation down to its target of 2%.

On a positive note, initial jobless claims fell to 211,000, signaling a continued strong labor market.

Continuing claims for unemployment benefits increased slightly to 1.82 million.

The economic data comes as the Federal Reserve debates its next monetary policy actions.

The recent CPI report, which showed annual inflation at 3.5%, has prompted the market to anticipate fewer interest rate cuts this year.

Overall, the data suggests that while there may be some moderation in wholesale price pressures, inflation remains elevated and the Federal Reserve may continue to pursue a cautious approach on interest rates.