The mainstream seemed to take the March CPI data as good news. With core CPI coming in below expectations, the narrative is that we’ve probably hit peak inflation. But the producer price data that came out yesterday tells a different story.
In another sign that the inflation train is far from running out of steam, producer prices were up big again in February.
The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand surged 0.8% month on month. This was close to the expectation. The annual increase in producer prices came in at 10%, tying the all-time record.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell “retired” the word “transitory” as it relates to inflation back on Nov. 30. Just two-and-a-half months later, we’re seeing a new word bandied about to describe inflation — persistent.
Less than a week after the January CPI data came in even hotter than anticipated (again), we got yet another signal that persistent is a much better word for the inflation situation. Producer prices (PPI) doubled expectations, charting the biggest increase in eight months.
The producer price index rose at the fastest rate in the history of the data set in November. This is a runaway inflation train hurtling down the tracks toward consumers. And despite all the talk, the Fed won’t be able to stop it.
The Consumer Price Index blew past expectations in October as the “transitory” inflation narrative continues to unwind. CPI was up 0.9%. On an annual basis, the inflation rate was 6.2% compared with a 5.9% estimate. It was the highest annual CPI gain since 1990. The CPI stole the headlines, but the Producer Price Index also came in hotter than expected, up 8.6% on a year-on-year basis. After the PPI came out, Peter Schiff appeared on RT Boom Bust to talk about it.
He said double-barrel inflation is locked and loaded.
Much hotter than expected CPI data for October stole the spotlight on Wednesday, but there was more bad news on the inflation front that received less attention. The annual Producer Price Index (PPI) increase in October tied September’s record, as rising producer prices continue to undercut the “transitory inflation” narrative.
The consumer price index was expected to come in hot yet again in October. It came in sizzling.
The actual CPI numbers for last month were even hotter than expected as “transitory” inflation remained well above 5% on an annual basis for the sixth straight month.
Producer prices came in hot again in August, charting the biggest annual gain in nearly 11 years. This indicates “transitory” inflation isn’t going away any time soon.
The PPI for August rose 0.7% month-on-month. Economists were forecasting a 0.6% rise. This follows on the heels of two straight months with producer prices increasing 1.0%.
While the CPI numbers came in around expectations in July, the producer price data came in hotter than expected for the seventh straight month, putting a damper on the notion that “transitory” inflation might be cooling.
Gold and silver got pummeled on Tuesday. The price of gold dropped more than 5%, falling far below the $2,000 level. It was the worst single-day rout in seven years. Gold continued to fall in Asian trading Wednesday morning and briefly dropped below $1,900 before clawing back later in the session. Silver also had a precipitous fall, diving some 13%.
Peter Schiff talked about the sell-off during his podcast. He said we shouldn’t lose sight of the fundamentals and they’re still bullish for gold. The Fed isn’t about to stop printing money and inflation is going to win.
