U.S. wholesale inflation rises to annual rate of 5.4% in August 2026
The U.S. producer price index for final demand increased by 0.4% in August 2026, pushing the annual wholesale inflation rate up to 5.4%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marks a rise from July’s revised figure of 4.8%. Energy prices were the primary driver behind this increase, with final-demand energy surging by 4.2% due largely to a sharp 24.1% jump in diesel fuel costs. Core PPI — excluding food and energy — rose 0.2% for the month and remained at an annual rate of 4.6%. Further up the supply chain, price pressures were even more pronounced: processed goods prices climbed by 1.8%, while unprocessed goods increased by 1.1%. Portfolio management index fell in August but still showed a strong year-over-year gain. The report comes ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on September 15-16, with officials indicating that recent inflation data could influence their rate decision.
Topics: Bureau of Labor Statistics economic data inflation wholesale prices