A drop in July’s producer inflation suggests another month of favorable inflation data that should help seal the deal for a rate cut in September and more afterwards. The final demand inflation rose 0.1% in July and 2.2% from a year ago. Even better, the core component of the producer inflation number ... READ MORE >
food prices
Canadian inflation ticks up but underlying data may bode well for interest rates
Canada’s July inflation figures are a somber reminder that the road back to 2% will take time and patience. The headline inflation rate stands at 3.3%, above the 1-3% target range after months of sharp decline, according to data Statistics Canada released Tuesday. A 3.3% inflation rate is clearly ... READ MORE >
Producer prices ease as energy costs fall
Prices paid to domestic producers deflated for the second month in a row as energy prices continued to fall and food prices remained unchanged. August's producer inflation index for final demand fell by 0.1% from July, according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: U.S. food prices likely past pandemic peak
Early in the pandemic, one concern for U.S. households was the rising price of food amid widespread job losses, a reduction in hours worked and declining incomes. Now, one year later, that concern has eased as we gain some perspective on the trajectory of overall prices in general and food prices in ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Rising food costs catch up with grocers
During the pandemic, despite all of the challenges it presented, grocers gained some relief from the margin pressures that had been steadily building. Not only did demand from consumers increase as they ate at home more, but grocers were also able to pass along higher costs created by production and ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Middle market retailers pay close attention to inflation as pandemic progresses
A simple visual demonstrates a critical truth for middle market consumer products companies that will be even more critical in the wake of the pandemic, particularly if the economy enters a prolonged period of deflation. Costs among the different sectors within the consumer ecosystem can diverge sharply ... READ MORE >