Inflation measure jumps to highest level in 4 years
Experts warned that wholesale inflation rates may be soaring, potentially driven by increases in the cost of oil.
Data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s producer price index showed a 6.3% increase since September 2025 and a 1.3% wholesale price increase from August to September 2026, the highest recorded levels since December and March 2022, respectively, according to a news article from The Associated Press. The experts cited pressure from growing diesel costs, which are up by nearly $3 per gallon compared with 2025, as the culprit behind the rising wholesale inflation and a jump in the prices of core shipped and warehoused goods such as food. For instance, they noted that oil costs have lifted transportation and warehousing prices by 16% compared with the same time in 2025.
Coupled with the consumer price index detailing elevated prices for goods and services in September — including vegetables, electricity and airfares — the recent data suggested that the inflation-adjusted income for the average U.S. consumer dropped from September 2025. With a Federal Reserve meeting scheduled for later in October, the experts have suggested that an interest rate hike may be more likely than prior to the publication of the reports.
Read more: The Associated Press
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