(Headline USA) Inflation at the wholesale level jumped 1% in June, pushing price gains over the past 12 months up by a record 7.3%.
The Labor Department reported Wednesday that the June increase in its producer price index, which measures inflation pressures before they reach consumers, followed a gain of 0.8% in May and was the largest one-month increase since a 1.2% rise in January.
For the 12 months ending in June, wholesale prices are up 7.3%, the largest 12-month increase since the government began the current series on wholesale prices in 2010.
The news on wholesale prices followed a report Tuesday that consumer prices increased in June by 0.9% and were up 5.4% over the past 12 months, the biggest 12-month gain in 13 years.
The increase in inflation is coming at a time when the economy is rebounding from the pandemic recession, rising consumer demand is bumping up against bottlenecks and supply shortages, and the federal government has issued billions of dollars in printed money, which are pushing prices higher.
“As Joe Biden’s inflation crisis rages, he just can’t stop fueling it with more reckless government spending,” said Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. “On the same day that the June CPI report showed that inflation has grown every month under Biden’s presidency, Democrats are out with a new plan for a $4.1 TRILLION dollar spending spree…Joe Biden and the Democrats can’t face reality and be fiscally responsible to protect American families.”
Nearly 60% of the gain in wholesale prices in June reflected a jump in the cost of services, led by higher margins received by wholesalers and retailers.
Food costs at the wholesale level were up 0.8% while energy costs rose 1% in June.
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy and the trade margins, rose 0.5% in June following a 0.7% rise in May.
The big jump in inflation in recent months has called into question the position of the Federal Reserve that the price increases will be temporary and are not a sign that inflation is threatening to get out of control as it did in the 1970s.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell in testimony prepared for an appearance before the House Financial Services Committee repeated his view that the high inflation readings of the past several months have been driven by temporary factors related to the re-opening of the economy such as a surge in consumer demand and supply bottlenecks especially in such areas as auto production.
“Inflation has increased notably and will likely remain elevated in coming months before moderating,” Powell said, an apparent acknowledgement that price gains have been larger and more persistent than many economists forecast.
Yet Powell did not repeat an assertion he made just three weeks ago before another House panel, that as the trends pushing prices higher faded, inflation would “drop back” to the Fed’s goal of 2%.
Financial markets are watching the Fed’s comments closely for any indication that the central bank may decide to begin raising interest rates sooner than expected because of increased worries about inflation.
Adapted from reporting by Associated Press.
