Producer Price Index (PPI)
June's Producer Price Index (PPI) gave us this morning’s good news by showing wholesale inflation was also much weaker than expected last month. The overall PPI reading fell 0.3% when it was expected to slip just 0.1%. The more relevant core reading that excludes volatile food and energy costs was expected to rise 0.4%, but was up only 0.2%. Both readings were revised lower for May also. On an annual basis, the readings were up 5.5% and 4.7% respectively. However, these were much softer than forecasts, indicating wholesale inflation was better than thought over the past year and the last two months. Easing inflation makes bonds more appealing to investors, allowing for mortgage rates to move lower. It also makes it harder for the Fed to raise key short-term rates.