Tariffs Lift Wholesale Prices in January, Foreshadowing Higher Consumer Costs

U.S. wholesale prices rose 0.5% in January, nudging the annual Producer Price Index down to 2.9% but signaling tariff-driven costs could spill into consumer prices. The core PPI jumped 0.8% (3.6% year over year), led by a surge in trade services and price pressures in goods like apparel, chemicals, and electronics. Economists warn that tariff pass-throughs to retailers and consumers could keep inflation elevated, while markets fell on the inflation data amid expectations the Fed could pause rate cuts.