US producer prices increase; underlying inflation moderate

WASHINGTON: US producer prices increased strongly in February, leading to the largest annual gain in nearly 2-1/2 years, but considerable slack in the labor market could make it harder for businesses to pass on the higher costs to consumers.

The producer price index for final demand rose 0.5% last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. That followed a 1.3% jump in January, which was biggest advance since December 2009.

In the 12 months through February, the PPI surged 2.8%, the most since October 2018. The PPI increased 1.7% year-on-year in January. Last month's increase in the PPI was in line with economists' expectations.

Manufacturing and services industries have been flagging higher production costs as the year-long COVID-19 pandemic gums up the supply chain. Surveys this month showed measures of prices paid by manufacturers and services industries in February racing to levels last seen in 2008.

Inflation is expected to accelerate in the coming months and exceed the Federal Reserve's 2% target, a flexible average, by April as declining coronavirus infections and a faster pace of vaccinations allows for greater economic re-engagement.

Part of the anticipated spike in inflation would be the result of price decreases early in the pandemic washing out of the calculations. Many economists, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell, do not expect the strength in inflation will persist beyond the so-called base effects.

"Beyond a rise in the metrics this year on base effects and a fuller reopening of the economy that will revive demand, price pressures are unlikely to keep accelerating, given an incomplete recovery in the labor market," said Rubeela Farooqi, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics in White Plains, New York.

At least 20.1 million Americans are on unemployment benefits, limiting businesses' ability to ask for higher prices.

US stocks opened lower. The dollar rose against a basket of currencies. US Treasury prices fell.

FOOD PRICES SURGE

A 6.0% jump in the cost of energy goods accounted for more than two-thirds of the broad-based rise in the PPI last month. Energy prices rose 5.1% in January.

The cost of services edged up 0.1% last month after accelerating 1.3% in January, which was biggest increase since December 2009. Goods prices rose 1.4%, matching January's gain.

Excluding the volatile food, energy and trade services components, producer prices climbed 0.2%. The so-called core PPI accelerated 1.2% in January. In the 12 months through February, the core PPI increased 2.2% after gaining 2.0% in January.

The Fed tracks the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for its inflation target. The US central bank has signaled it would tolerate higher prices after inflation persistently undershot its target. The core PCE price index is at 1.5%.

The government has provided nearly $6 trillion in relief since the pandemic started in the United States in March 2020, with President Joe Biden on Thursday signing legislation for his $1.9 trillion package. That, together with the Fed's monthly bond purchases have raised fears from some quarters of the economy overheating.

The government reported this week that the core CPI barely rose in February after being unchanged for two straight months, which helped to calm inflation worries that were stoked by a spike in US Treasury yields.

In February, wholesale food prices jumped 1.3%. Core goods prices gained 0.3% after increasing 0.8% in January. These prices have risen as the dollar has weakened against the currencies of the United States' main trade partners.

Prices for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing were unchanged after accelerating 1.4% in the prior month. Healthcare costs dipped 0.1% after surging 1.2% in January. Portfolio fees dropped 1.1% after soaring 9.4% January. Those healthcare and portfolio management costs feed into the core PCE price index.