Wholesale inflation unexpectedly fell in August, teeing up Fed for interest rate cut next week

Group 1: Wholesale Price Trends - The Producer Price Index (PPI) declined by 0.1% in August, contrary to expectations of a 0.3% increase, indicating that businesses are absorbing tariff costs [1][6] - Core PPI, excluding food and energy, also fell by 0.1% month-over-month, with a year-over-year increase of 2.8% [2] - Companies are reportedly holding off on price hikes due to factors such as foreign suppliers discounting, weak domestic demand, and uncertainty regarding future tariff rates [7] Group 2: Impact of Tariffs - Some imported goods, like tobacco and coffee, showed significant price increases, with tobacco rising by 2.3% in August and coffee prices increasing by 6.9%, marking a 33.3% rise over the past year [3] - Overall, wholesalers and retailers have been slow to pass tariff costs onto consumers, as they are aware of consumer inflation concerns [4] Group 3: Economic Indicators and Federal Reserve Response - Services prices dropped by 0.2% in August, contributing to the overall decline in the PPI, with trade services experiencing a 1.7% drop, the largest since 2009 [10] - The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates, with traders placing 100% odds on a cut at the upcoming meeting, driven by tame inflation data [8][10] - The labor market shows signs of weakness, with average payroll growth at just 29,000 over the past three months, below the breakeven level needed to maintain steady unemployment [12]