Here's what new data from the producer price index says about where inflation is headed, according to economists.

Producer prices in July rose faster than forecast across the board, giving investors and the Federal Reserve an inflation surprise just over a week out from Fed Chair Jay Powell's crucial Jackson Hole speech.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the producer price index jumped more than expected in July, spurring renewed concerns about inflation's economic impact.

Producer prices increased by the most in three years in July, suggesting a broad pickup in inflation was imminent. "This is a kick in the teeth for anyone who thought that tariffs would not impact domestic prices in the United States economy,

Massive downward revisions in July's jobs report last week fueled concerns that the labor market is softening too quickly, strengthening the case for rate cuts. But the hotter-than-anticipated inflation data could suggest the need for more restraint.

The monthly rise was the biggest since June 2022, and the annual increase the highest since February this year. Core PPI, which strips out volatile data points, rose by 3.7 percent over the year, its highest annual rise since April 2021. The PPI measures the output prices for domestic producers of goods and services before they reach consumers.

Inflation, as measured by the producer price index, shot up to 3.3% for the year ending in July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday — the largest 12 month increase since February. On a month-to-month basis,

The headline PPI reading rose 0.9% month-over-month. This was more than 4X the increase economists were expecting. Read more

Stocks moved lower on Thursday as investors reacted to the producer-price index showing a 0.9% bump for the month of July. According to the PPI report, three-quarters of this increase can be traced to the growing cost for services.

US stocks mostly stalled on Thursday as Wall Street digested a much hotter-than-expected PPI inflation print, souring optimism around a large September rate cut. July's Producer Price Index (PPI) came in well above expectations,