economy
January 30, 2026
Producer prices rose 3% in 2025 as inflation lingered
Inflation, as measured by the producer price index, rose 3% the year ending in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday, more than many economists had expected.

TL;DR
- Producer price index (PPI) inflation rose 3% for the year ending in December, higher than anticipated.
- PPI inflation is a full percentage point above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
- Month-to-month PPI increased by 0.5%, also exceeding expectations.
- Core PPI inflation rose to 3.3% annually and 0.7% monthly.
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation trended down in 2025, reaching 2.7% annually.
- Consumer sentiment and economic confidence remain historically low despite falling CPI.
- The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, citing concerns about high inflation and a stable labor market.
- The economy added 50,000 jobs in December 2025, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.4%.
- Revisions show a three-month moving average of job gains was negative 22,000 in December.
- Private-sector job growth averaged nearly 30,000 over the past three months.
- Public discontent with prices and affordability issues are impacting President Trump's approval ratings and making the economy a key issue for upcoming elections.
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