Key market statistics

The February 2026 Producer Price Index (PPI), released on March 18, 2026, showed that wholesale inflation rose significantly more than expected. 

February 2026 PPI Key Metrics

• Headline PPI (Month-over-Month): Increased 0.7%, more than double the 0.3% forecast.
• Headline PPI (Year-over-Year): Accelerated to 3.4% from 2.9% in January, marking its highest level in a year.
• Core PPI (Excluding Food and Energy): Rose 0.5% for the month, exceeding the 0.3% estimate.
• Annual Core PPI: Jumped to 3.9%, up from 3.6% in January and above the 3.7% forecast. 

Primary Drivers of Inflation

• Goods: Prices for final demand goods surged 1.1%, the largest increase in months.
  • Food: Rose 2.4%, driven by a 48.9% spike in fresh and dry vegetable prices.
  • Energy: Increased 2.3%, with gasoline prices up 1.8% and diesel fuel jumping 13.9%.
• Services: Prices for final demand services moved up 0.5%, led by traveler accommodation (up 5.7%) and securities brokerage services (up 4.2%). 

Economic Implications

• Federal Reserve Outlook: The "hotter-than-expected" data complicates the Fed's plans for potential rate cuts.
• Market Reaction: S&P 500 futures fell, and the 10-year Treasury yield edged higher following the report.
• Upcoming Release: The March 2026 PPI report is scheduled to be released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on April 14, 2026, at 8:30 A.M. ET. 

Would you like a more detailed breakdown of the services sector or the intermediate demand data from this report?

The latest U.S. Factory Orders report, released by the U.S. Census Bureau on March 18, 2026, shows that new orders for manufactured goods increased by 0.1% to $620.1 billion in January 2026. 

This slight gain follows a revised 0.4% decline in December 2025 and met market consensus expectations. 

Key Findings from the March 2026 Release

• Total New Orders: Increased 0.1% ($0.8 billion) to $620.1 billion.
• Durable Goods: Remained virtually unchanged at $321.3 billion, as gains in machinery and computers were offset by a decline in transportation.
• Nondurable Goods: Increased 0.3% to $298.7 billion.
• Excluding Transportation: New orders rose by 0.4%, marking the third consecutive month of growth in this category.
• Year-over-Year: Orders were up 3.5% compared to January 2025.

Sector Performance Breakdown

• Computers & Electronics: Rose 1.3% to $28.3 billion.
• Primary Metals: Rose 0.7% to $27.9 billion.
• Machinery: Edged up 0.2% to $40.3 billion.
• Transportation Equipment: Fell 0.8% to $113.5 billion, primarily driven by a 23.8% plunge in defense aircraft and parts.

Context and Market Impact

• Economic Stability: Analysts at Investing.com described the report as reflecting "economic stability," providing a neutral signal for the U.S. dollar.
• Catch-up Data: The Census Bureau noted that these releases are part of a rescheduled calendar following delays caused by a federal funding lapse earlier in the year.
• Headwinds: Manufacturing continues to face cost pressures from elevated oil prices, which surged over 40% due to regional conflicts.

Would you like to see a comparison of these factory order trends against other recent indicators like the Empire State Manufacturing Survey?