The U.S. core Producer Price Index (PPI) slowed noticeably in May 2026, suggesting easing inflationary pressures at the wholesale level. Month-over-month, core PPI rose 0.4% in May, down sharply from the 1.0% increase recorded in April 2026.
Core PPI excludes volatile components and is closely watched as a gauge of underlying cost pressures faced by producers. The latest data, updated on 11 June 2026, shows that May’s rise, while still positive, reflects a moderation in the pace of price increases compared with the previous month.
On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” figure for May measures the change relative to April, while April’s “previous” reading captures the change from March to April. The deceleration from 1.0% to 0.4% suggests that pipeline inflation may be stabilizing after a stronger run-up earlier in the spring.