Free Trial

US DATA: Sequential Producer Prices On The Low Side, Core Momentum Soft

US DATA

December's PPI report showed softer sequential price pressures than had been expected: headline final demand PPI came in at 0.2% M/M (0.4% expected, 0.4% prior), with the "core" ex-food/energy/trade category printing 0.1% (0.3% expected, 0.1% prior). From a broader perspective for this volatile series, pipeline inflation remains uncomfortably elevated. But this was not a particularly worrisome report in its own right and core PPI - while still elevated - does not appear to be accelerating.

  • This left the Y/Y figures higher vs November but lower than expected: headline at a 22-month high 3.3% (3.5% expected, 3.0% prior), with ex-food/energy/trade actually decelerating to 3.3% (no consensus, 3.5% prior).
  • So on the one hand, headline PPI has been steadily accelerating Y/Y since bottoming at 0.8% in Nov 2023 and is now at a 22-month high, but Core PPI prices have settling in at above 3.0% Y/Y, where it has been for 9 consecutive months. That lends further credence to the idea that the prolonged period of Y/Y core goods deflation is over - but likewise there are no obvious signs of a pronounced resurgence in pipeline inflation outside of food and energy.
  • Indeed, as the headline figures suggest, food (+6.4% Y/Y after +6.7%) and energy (-2.0% Y/Y after -6.1%) prices have been more inflationary/less deflationary, respectively, on an annual basis.
  • But we interpret the "core" reading to imply that pipeline price momentum has continued to slow: at 1.9%, the 3-month annualized moving average fell to 1.9% from 2.1% prior, well down from over 5% earlier in 2024 for the lowest since December 2023. The 6-month m.a. likewise pulled back to the softest since November 2023.
  • For the two major subcategories of final demand PPI, services inflation was flat, vs 0.3% M/M prior for the weakest since July, while goods inflation came in at 0.6% (after 0.7%).
  • As we noted separately following the release, the PCE-relevant categories were mixed, with a jump in airfares the standout but fairly benign readings in other areas.
image
326 words

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.

December's PPI report showed softer sequential price pressures than had been expected: headline final demand PPI came in at 0.2% M/M (0.4% expected, 0.4% prior), with the "core" ex-food/energy/trade category printing 0.1% (0.3% expected, 0.1% prior). From a broader perspective for this volatile series, pipeline inflation remains uncomfortably elevated. But this was not a particularly worrisome report in its own right and core PPI - while still elevated - does not appear to be accelerating.

  • This left the Y/Y figures higher vs November but lower than expected: headline at a 22-month high 3.3% (3.5% expected, 3.0% prior), with ex-food/energy/trade actually decelerating to 3.3% (no consensus, 3.5% prior).
  • So on the one hand, headline PPI has been steadily accelerating Y/Y since bottoming at 0.8% in Nov 2023 and is now at a 22-month high, but Core PPI prices have settling in at above 3.0% Y/Y, where it has been for 9 consecutive months. That lends further credence to the idea that the prolonged period of Y/Y core goods deflation is over - but likewise there are no obvious signs of a pronounced resurgence in pipeline inflation outside of food and energy.
  • Indeed, as the headline figures suggest, food (+6.4% Y/Y after +6.7%) and energy (-2.0% Y/Y after -6.1%) prices have been more inflationary/less deflationary, respectively, on an annual basis.
  • But we interpret the "core" reading to imply that pipeline price momentum has continued to slow: at 1.9%, the 3-month annualized moving average fell to 1.9% from 2.1% prior, well down from over 5% earlier in 2024 for the lowest since December 2023. The 6-month m.a. likewise pulled back to the softest since November 2023.
  • For the two major subcategories of final demand PPI, services inflation was flat, vs 0.3% M/M prior for the weakest since July, while goods inflation came in at 0.6% (after 0.7%).
  • As we noted separately following the release, the PCE-relevant categories were mixed, with a jump in airfares the standout but fairly benign readings in other areas.
image