Wholesale prices rose 0.7% in February, much more than expected

• February headline PPI rose 0.7% month-over-month, exceeding the 0.3% estimate and marking the highest level since July '25 (likely '23).
• Core PPI (ex-food and energy) increased 0.5% month-over-month, higher than expected, and was the 'lightest' since November of last year.
• Year-over-year headline PPI was 3.4% (0.4% hotter than expected), and year-over-year core PPI was 3.9% (0.3% hotter than the unrevised 3.6%).

The February Producer Price Index (PPI) report revealed wholesale prices rose 0.7% month-over-month, significantly higher than the expected 0.3%. Both headline and core inflation measures came in hotter than anticipated, indicating persistent inflationary pressures that could influence Federal Reserve policy.