Prices of goods and services in the U.S. rose by less than expected in May, indicating that President Trump's tariffs are not significantly impacting inflation. The producer price index for final demand increased by 0.1%, half of what economists had predicted. Core producer prices rose by 0.1% as well. The index measures prices paid to domestic producers of goods and services, not just wholesale prices.
Key Points
Producer price index measures prices paid to domestic producers of goods and services
Final demand portion signals sales to end-users like governments, foreign buyers, households, and businesses
Index tends to track consumer price index over time, although they can diverge monthly
Consumer price index tracks prices paid by households to foreign and domestic businesses
Pros
Prices of goods and services rose by less than expected in May
Evidence suggests that President Trump's tariffs are not significantly impacting inflation
Producer price index for final demand increased by 0.1%, lower than economists' forecast
Cons
Core producer prices rose by 0.1%, also lower than expected
Inflation could still be impacted by future trade policies