US wholesale prices dropped 0.5% last month despite President Trump's tariffs

[progree]

2. We had quite a discussion about this in the Economy Group. And here is a little summary:

Last edited Thu May 15, 2025, 07:59 PM - Edit history (2)

BLS news release https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ppi.nr0.htm

I use a double minus to make minuses stand out more:

I highlight the latest numbers (April and the 12 month number).

Regular PPI: Jan-Apr, month by month: +0.7%, +0.2%, +0.0%, --0.5%), 12 months: +2.4%,
The average of the last 3 months annualizes to a --1.2% rate (using the actual index numbers for this calculation)


This is the core measure that the BLS highlights:
Core PPi (ex food, energy, and trade services): Jan-Apr: +0.4%, +0.4%, +0.2%, --0.1%, 12 months: +2.9%
The average of the last 3 months annualizes to a +1.8% rate (using the actual index numbers for this calculation)


This is the core measure that the media usually highlights
Core PPI (ex food & energy): Jan-Apr: +0.6%, +0.2%, +0.4, --0.4%, 12 months: +3.1%


Economy Group discussion: a lot about whether this is good news for the regime or not, or whether the sharp drops in the regular and the ex food & energy core, are, or will be seen as near-recessionary
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1116100490