Wholesale Prices Surge, Putting New Pressure on Inflation

Prices for wholesale goods jumped in September, pushing inflation higher heading into the final months of the year. A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows wholesale goods prices climbed 0.9 percent — the biggest increase in more than a year and a half.

While the cost of wholesale services remained flat, analysts say the spike in goods was driven heavily by rising energy prices, including a sharp jump in gasoline.

These new numbers arrive as the Federal Reserve continues to weigh its next move on interest rates. Officials remain divided over whether to lower rates again, citing uncertainty around the pace of inflation and overall economic strength.

Policymakers are set to meet in December to assess conditions and decide if additional rate adjustments are needed to keep prices in check.

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