The Producer Price Index increased by 1.8% in November to 176.2 (1982=100), significantly higher than the expected increase of 0.8%, following an increase of 0.3% in October and a 0.6% decline in September. Over the year, the index has increased by 2.4%, the first 12-month increase since November 2008. The index for energy goods increased by 6.9% in November and prices for consumer foods increased by 0.5%. Excluding food and energy prices, Core PPI rose by 0.5%, its largest increase since a 0.5% gain in October 2008, after a 0.6% decline in the previous month.
Industrial Production increased by 0.8% in November to an index value of 99.4 (2002=100), better than the expected increase of 0.5% following a 0.3% increase in October, revised upwards from an originally reported 0.1% increase. Over the year, the industrial production index is down by 5.1%. Capacity Utilization was reported at 71.3%, an increase from the 70.6% level in October, but 9.6 percentage points below its average for the period from 1972 through 2008. In November 2008, Capacity Utilization was measured at 74.4%.
Upcoming Releases
CPI (12/16 at 8:30 AM EST)
Housing Starts (12/16 at 8:30 AM EST)
Building Permits (12/16 at 8:30 AM EST)
FOMC Policy Statement (12/16 at 2:15 PM EST)
