At a Glance

What Is the Producer Price Index?

The Producer Price Index (PPI) tracks the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output. Published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the PPI measures price changes at the wholesale or producer stage before goods and services reach consumers. Because producers typically pass cost increases along the supply chain over time, rising PPI is a widely recognised leading indicator of future consumer price inflation.

The BLS publishes three main PPI measures: final demand (the headline figure, covering goods and services sold to end users), intermediate demand (prices at earlier production stages), and crude materials (raw commodities). The core PPI for final demand, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is closely monitored by policymakers and economists as a measure of underlying inflationary trends. The report is released approximately two weeks after the reference month ends, positioning the August 13 publication as one of the earliest major inflation data points for July 2026.

PPI Release: August 13, 2026

The August 13 report will cover July 2026 producer prices. The May 2026 reading showed PPI final demand rising 6.0% year-over-year for the second consecutive month, maintaining the elevated level first reached in April 2026 when the annual rate surged from 4.3% to 6.0%. This acceleration from the 3.0% full-year 2025 average has been driven by tariff cost pass-through to manufacturers, energy price increases related to geopolitical tensions, and elevated transportation and warehousing costs.

By August 13, the June 2026 PPI reading (released July 15) will be available and will provide the most recent prior benchmark. No formal consensus estimate for July 2026 PPI is available at time of writing. The key question for the August 13 release will be whether producer prices have begun to ease as tariff impacts stabilise and year-on-year comparisons grow more demanding (base effects), or whether new cost pressures have sustained the elevated 6%-plus annual rate into the summer months. The US CPI Report August 2026 on August 12 will precede the PPI by one day, setting the inflationary context for markets heading into the August 13 release.

Why This PPI Release Matters

By August 2026, the trajectory of producer price inflation will be a central input to Federal Reserve policy discussions for the remainder of the year. The Jackson Hole Economic Symposium 2026, typically held in late August (August 27-29), will gather global central bankers and economists to assess the economic outlook. The August 13 PPI release will be one of the final major inflation data points before that gathering, and a reading that diverges significantly from expectations could significantly alter the tone of discussions at Jackson Hole.

For the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), sustained PPI inflation above 5% would complicate any return to rate-cutting mode. The transmission from producer prices to consumer prices runs on a lag of several months: elevated PPI in spring and summer 2026 would typically be expected to show up in CPI by autumn 2026, potentially keeping consumer inflation above target. If the August PPI confirms that producer price pressures are abating, it would strengthen the argument for rate cuts at the September FOMC meeting.

For equities, high PPI is a margin concern for industrial companies, consumer goods manufacturers, and retailers who must decide whether to absorb higher costs or pass them on to customers. A sharp deceleration in PPI would be a meaningful positive for corporate earnings forecasts, particularly for companies in sectors with pricing power constraints.

What to Watch For

• Above 6.5% year-over-year: A further acceleration would confirm that producer price pressures are not abating and signal continued risk of consumer price increases in autumn 2026. Bond yields would likely rise, rate-cut expectations for September would fall, and equity sentiment could turn risk-off.
• In line (approximately 5.0% to 6.5% year-over-year): A reading similar to May and June levels would suggest producer price inflation is high but plateauing. Markets would likely take this as neutral, with attention shifting to whether base effects begin to pull the annual rate lower in coming months.
• Below 5.0% year-over-year: A meaningful deceleration would be a positive surprise for markets, indicating that the worst of the tariff and energy-driven producer price surge may be behind the economy. Bond markets would rally, equities would broadly benefit, and rate-cut expectations would increase.

Within the release, the services PPI component carries particular Fed relevance. Services producer prices are less affected by tariffs than goods prices and are more directly linked to labour cost trends. If services PPI remains elevated while goods PPI eases, it signals that labour-market-driven inflation is becoming the primary inflation driver, a more persistent concern than tariff-driven goods price shocks.

Historical Context

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. PPI Final Demand year-over-year percentage change. June and July 2026 readings not yet available at time of writing.

Market Positioning

Ahead of the August 13 release, rate futures will reflect expectations shaped by the July 15 PPI (June data), the August 12 CPI (July data), and the August 7 non-farm payrolls report. A combination of strong employment, high CPI, and high PPI on August 13 would suggest that the Fed holds rates at the September meeting. A combination of weaker employment, lower CPI, and decelerating PPI would open the door for a rate cut discussion. The August 13 PPI will be the final major inflation data point before the Jackson Hole symposium on August 27-29, giving it elevated market significance in a traditionally low-liquidity summer trading period.

Related Events

• US CPI Report August 2026 – Released August 12, one day before the PPI, providing the consumer price context for the August 13 producer price data.
• US Employment Situation (Non-Farm Payrolls) August 2026 – Released August 7, the labour market data provides essential context for interpreting whether cost pressures are demand-driven or supply-driven.
• Jackson Hole Economic Symposium 2026 – The August 27-29 gathering of global central bankers will be the next major policy signal after the August 13 PPI, with the data feeding directly into policy discussions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does PPI differ from CPI?

The PPI measures price changes from the producer’s perspective, tracking what sellers receive for their goods and services. The CPI measures price changes from the consumer’s perspective, covering what households pay for a basket of goods and services. PPI is released approximately one day before CPI each month and is often used as a leading indicator of future consumer price trends.

When is the August 2026 PPI report released?

The BLS will release the Producer Price Index for July 2026 on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 8:30 AM ET. The report will be available on the BLS website at bls.gov/ppi immediately following publication.

What causes PPI to rise?

Producer prices can rise due to higher input costs (raw materials, energy, labour), supply chain disruptions, tariffs on imported intermediate goods, or strong end-user demand that gives producers pricing power. In 2026, the primary drivers have been tariff-related cost increases on goods producers, higher energy prices, and elevated transportation costs. These factors tend to pass through to consumer prices over subsequent months, though the magnitude and speed of pass-through depends on industry competition and consumer demand sensitivity.