{
  "id": 14799912,
  "title": "US wholesale inflation rises as energy costs soar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/us-wholesale-inflation-rises-as-energy-costs-soar",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-15T21:26:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Qatar Tribune Business",
    "slug": "qatar-tribune-business",
    "url": "https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/259380/business/us-wholesale-inflation-rises-as-energy-costs-soar"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Wholesale inflation surged in September, driven by a sharp rise in energy costs, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department. The producer price index for September climbed 6.3% compared to a year ago, surpassing the 5.6% increase in August and marking the highest jump since December 2022. On a month-over-month basis, wholesale prices jumped 1.3% from August to September, the largest rise since March 2022. The surge in wholesale prices, particularly in transportation and warehousing, is due to the soaring cost of diesel fuel, which is essential for long-haul trucks and freight trains. This price increase is starting to impact the cost of food, a sector that had previously shown signs of cooling down. Transportation and warehousing prices climbed by 3.4% last month, representing a 16% increase compared to a year ago. Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, noted that the impact of energy price hikes is felt throughout the economy, as energy inputs move goods from producers to wholesalers and retailers. Farmers also rely heavily on diesel for their equipment, which could further push up food prices. The report coincides with the latest consumer price index released on Wednesday, indicating a similar acceleration in prices, driven by rising gas costs. Both reports highlight the growing pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to combat inflation. Inflation has remained above the central bank's 2% target for five and a half years, and both core prices and overall prices rose significantly from August to September. However, core prices, excluding food and energy, increased by 0.7% from August to September, up from 0.2% in the previous month and 5% from a year ago. Soaring energy costs, particularly gas prices, were the primary driver of this increase. The report also revealed higher costs for electricity, vegetables, shipping, and airfares. The ongoing inflation has eroded Americans' incomes and dampened consumer sentiment towards the economy. A recent poll found that only 17% of U.S. adults approve of President Trump's handling of the cost of living, with just 26% approving of his overall handling of the economy. The Federal Reserve is scheduled to hold a policy meeting in two weeks and may raise its key short-term interest rate, which could be the first hike of the year. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh's remarks at an international economic conference in Bangkok will be closely watched for any indication of a potential rate hike. Despite mixed signals in recent economic data, some economists expect a rate increase, given the persistent inflationary pressures.",
  "summary": "AgenciesWholesale inflation rose more than expected last month on a big jump in fuel costs as rising prices become a bigger economic challenge for millions of Americans, and a grow...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "US wholesale inflation reaches levels last seen in 2022",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/us-wholesale-inflation-reaches-levels-last-seen-in-2022",
        "published": "2026-10-15T16:02:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Wholesale inflation hits levels not seen since 2022",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/wholesale-inflation-hits-levels-not-seen-since-2022",
        "published": "2026-10-15T20:02:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Fast Company",
        "title": "Wholesale inflation reaches levels last seen in 2022 amid soaring energy costs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/wholesale-inflation-reaches-levels-last-seen-in-2022-amid-soaring",
        "published": "2026-10-15T20:23:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}