Overview
- Producer prices rose 0.7% from January and 3.4% from a year earlier, the largest annual gain since February 2025.
- Core wholesale prices excluding food and energy increased 0.5% on the month and 3.9% year over year, exceeding estimates.
- Food was the biggest driver, up 2.4%, with fresh and dry vegetable prices surging 48.9%; final demand goods rose 1.1% and services 0.5%.
- The report predates the late‑February U.S./Israel conflict with Iran, and analysts expect the nearly 50% jump in oil to lift March wholesale energy costs.
- U.S. stocks turned lower after the release as average gasoline rose to $3.84 per gallon and diesel prices climbed faster.