PomegraWholesale Prices Jump 1.3% as Gasoline Costs Surge
Why are wholesale prices up today?
US wholesale prices (PPI) rose 1.3% in September, data showed Thursday, leaving them 6.3% above a year earlier as a 20.3% jump in gasoline prices drove energy costs higher.
Key numbers
| Wholesale prices, monthly | +1.3%vs 0.5% expected; most since Mar 2022 |
|---|---|
| Wholesale prices, yearly | +6.3%most since Dec 2022 |
| Gasoline (wholesale) | +20.3%in one month |
| Goods prices | +2.6%record monthly gain; CNN reports 2.9%, BLS figure used |
| Core PPI (ex food, energy) | +0.7%5.0% yearly; 0.3% expected (per [5]) |
| Retail sales | +0.8%vs 0.3% expected; +0.2% ex gas stations |
What happened
US wholesale prices (PPI) rose 1.3% in September, data showed Thursday, leaving them 6.3% above a year earlier as a 20.3% jump in gasoline prices drove energy costs higher. Economists had expected a gain of only about 0.5% for the month and 5.3% for the year. Gasoline prices at the wholesale level jumped 20.3% in one month, and that alone drove about half of the rise in goods prices. Prices excluding food and energy (the "core" measure) also rose 0.7%, so the jump was not only about fuel. Retail sales rose 0.8% in September, but only 0.2% without gas stations.
Why it matters
Wholesale prices (the producer price index, or PPI) measure what businesses pay for goods and services, and rises can later show up on store shelves and at the pump. The hotter-than-expected reading adds to worries that inflation is spreading beyond fuel, since consumer prices were already up 3.7% from a year ago. It also adds pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, which would make loans costlier.
Who this affects
- MarketbearishMedium impact
- Higher Fed rate-hike odds weigh on borrowers and investors.
- CompanybearishMedium impact
- Businesses pay more for fuel and goods, squeezing profit margins.
- CompetitorsbearishMedium impact
- Shoppers may face higher prices at stores and pumps.
- IndustrymixedLow impact
- Retail sales rose 0.8%, but mostly from pricier gasoline.
US Wholesale Prices vs Consumer Prices, Retail Sales
| Wholesale prices (PPI)— | +1.3% | +6.3% | +0.5% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core PPI (ex food, energy)— | +0.7% | +5.0% | +0.3% |
| Consumer prices (CPI)— | — | +3.7% | — |
| Retail sales— | +0.8% | — | +0.3% |
As of 2026-10-15
How we got here
Wholesale prices last rose more in a single month, up 1.7%.
Consumer price report shows prices up 3.7% from a year earlier.
Wholesale prices reported up 1.3% in September; retail sales up 0.8%.
What to watch
- Fed's October rate decision; markets put hike odds near 34% after the report.2026-10
- Whether higher fuel costs spread into core prices, which rose 0.7% in September.Q4 2026
- Next monthly wholesale price report, covering October, to show if gasoline costs keep rising.2026-11
Educational content only. Not investment advice.
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