Surprise Surge In Wholesale Prices

(AP)  Inflation at the wholesale level surged by the largest amount in more than three decades in November, reflecting higher prices for gasoline and a host of other items.

The Producer Price Index, which measures inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, was up 2 percent last month, the biggest advance since a similar increase in November 1974, the Labor Department reported Tuesday.

Economists had been expecting a rebound in wholesale prices following two months of big declines. However, the 2 percent jump was four times bigger than the 0.5 percent increase they had forecast. Even excluding volatile energy and food prices, core inflation posted a 1.3 percent advance, the biggest jump in 26 years.

In other economic news, construction of new homes and apartments increased by 6.7 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.588 million units. However, in a sign of the troubles still besetting the housing industry, applications for permits to build new homes fell for a 10th consecutive month.

The report on wholesale prices was in stark contrast to last week's report that consumer prices were flat in November, the third straight month of price relief at the retail level.

The big difference was energy costs, which fell in the consumer survey but were up 6.1 percent in the November survey of wholesale prices.

The rise in wholesale energy costs was led by a 17.9 percent jump in gasoline prices, the biggest increase since June 2000. Natural gas for home use, home heating oil and diesel fuel costs all posted big gains at the wholesale level as well.

The performance of wholesale prices was certain to raise concerns about whether more price pressures are in the pipeline. Federal Reserve officials last week left interest rates unchanged at their final meeting of the year but said they continued to be worried about inflation pressures.

The 2 percent rise in wholesale inflation followed four straight months of benign readings including outright big declines of 1.3 percent in September and 1.6 percent in October.

In those months, energy prices were falling sharply, a situation that reversed in November.

Food costs showed a small 0.1 percent rise last month after a big 0.8 percent decline in October as increases in the price of dairy products, eggs and soft drinks offset declines in vegetable and fruit prices.

The 1.3 percent rise in core wholesale inflation, which excludes energy and food, followed a big 0.9 percent drop in October and was the biggest one-month gain since a similar 1.3 percent rise in July 1980.

The increase in the core rate of inflation was led by a record 13.7 percent jump in the price of light trucks, a category that includes sport utility vehicles. The price of new passenger cars rose by 2.2 percent.

[getcentered]

Every one should see the documentary called:
"The Corporation"

It describes how the emancipation proclamation was used by the rich, back in President Lincoln's days, to allow "corporations" to have the rights of people. Of course the foolish and southern racist%u2019s of that time allowed it to happen. The emancipation proclamation was supposed to free the slaves, not the rich.

Most Corporations today have unethical philosophies; profits over people. The corporations from Lincoln's day were mandated by government to build a bridge or a road or do something to benefit the people of the country. Corporations today are nothing of the sort! They are greedy penny-pinching tax dodging entities that would suck the air out of the sky to turn around a sell it back to you.

News laws are in order to control corporations, so they will operate in a manner that truly benefits the people of the UNITED STATES, and holds them to high ethics standards.

[olebd]

SharnCedar - I wish I had your knack for writing. I've always enjoyed your posts. Happy Holidays.

[edjohn66]

gslinger,

"This goes out to all you Liberal, God Hating, pot smoking, abortion loving, left wing radical kooks!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!"

Why, thank you! And I'm sure that your wishes are filled with all of the charity and good will that we Christains focus on during this season. You wouldn't possibly think of prostituting your religion out to try and annoy people..... No, I'm sure your faith is as sacred to you as most liberals' faith (or lack of religious faith) is to us, and you wouldn't demean and diminish your own faith so blatantly.

[sharncedar]

The monetary policy of the last 15 years has been an extremist policy, to pump our currency and money supply in an insane increasing spiral. The developing countries like China and India have absorbed a lot of this excess, but even they have a limit.

We are in for some hard times as this enormous bubble of excess inflationary capital percolates down into our economy. Oh well, it is tiresome to say "I told you so" when any stupid monkey could have done better than Greenspan et al. They aren't just incompetent, but evil.

[edjohn66]

The only upside to high oil prices is that we may finally get a real energy policy in the country. Our politicians have proven wholly unable to get us one in the last 30 years, so the only way to get one seems to be through the suffering of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Meanwhile, Brazil was able to focus on a smart energy policy for the last 30 years and is currently reaping the benefits.....

But what can people in this country expect when we keep electing oil men to power?