The Labor Department said Thursday that its producer price index, which measures inflation at the wholesale level before it reaches consumers, climbed 11.3% in June from the previous year. On a monthly basis, prices grew by 1.1%.
Core inflation at the wholesale level, which excludes the more volatile measurements of food and energy, increased 0.3% for the month, following a 0.4% increase in April and May. Over the past 12 months, core prices climbed 6.4%. Economists lauded the potential slowdown in core inflation increases, suggesting it could be a sign that consumer prices are beginning to moderate.
“It’s clear that food and energy are driving PPI higher, as was the case in yesterday’s inflation print,” said Peter Essele, the head of portfolio management at Commonwealth Financial Network. “When removing these volatile components, PPI appears to have peaked and is starting to roll over, a tell-tale sign that the economy is shifting into late-cycle territory.”
Overall, prices for goods jumped 2.4% last month, the sixth consecutive rise and the biggest contributor to the headline inflation figure. Nearly 90% of the June increase in services stems from a 10% leap in prices for final demand energy, including a stunning 18.% increase in gasoline prices, according to the Labor Department.
The services index, meanwhile, advanced 0.4% in June, with increases in transportation and warehousing services accounting for about two-thirds of the gain.