Table of Contents:
An analysis of producer price data
In
December 2024, producer prices in the United States showed a smaller increase than analysts’ forecasts. According to information released by the American Department of Labor, the producer price index increased by 0.2% on a monthly basis. This figure is lower than the +0.4% expected by the experts and the +0.4% recorded in the previous month. These results indicate a certain moderation in price growth, an aspect that could influence the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions
.
Annual increase and comparison with the previous month
On an annual basis, the increase in producer prices stood at 3.3%, a value that is below market expectations, which expected an increase of 3.5%. In the previous month, the annual increase had been 3%. This slowdown in price growth could suggest a stabilization of the economy, but also the need to closely monitor future economic developments
.
Core price analysis and stability
Analyzing ‘core’ prices, which exclude the most volatile components such as food and energy, the picture appears to be rather stable. On a monthly basis, core prices did not change, in contrast to +0.2% in the previous month and expectations of +0.3%. On an annual basis, however, an increase of 3.5% was confirmed, in line with the November figure, but once again below expectations of 3.8%. These data suggest that, although there is some stability, inflationary pressures may not be completely
under control.
Implications for the market and economic policy
The moderation in producer prices could have significant repercussions for the market and for future economic policies. Lower inflation expectations could influence Federal Reserve decisions regarding interest rates. In addition, the European Commission has recently authorized the acquisition of International Distribution Services by EP Group, a transaction involving postal and delivery services. This news could have an impact on the logistics and distribution sector, contributing to greater competitiveness in the European market
.
