- U.S. producer prices jump in February to 3.4%, fueling inflation fears and rattling markets.
- Bitcoin dips below $72,500 as investors react to rising costs.
- Energy and food costs surge, adding pressure to goods, services, and global supply chains.
U.S. producer prices jumped sharply in February, underlining persistent inflation and rattling markets worldwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the producer price index rose, well above the 0.3% forecast for the month. Over the past year, PPI climbed 3.4%, matching its highest level since February 2025, signaling continued cost pressures across goods and services.
The latest data strengthened the dollar and pushed U.S. Treasury yields higher, putting pressure on both stock and crypto markets. Bitcoin slipped below $72,500, down about 2% over the past day, while ether, solana, and XRP each fell closer to 3%.
Goods and Services Drive Inflation
In February, core producer prices, which strip out food, energy, and trade services, rose 0.5%, down slightly from January’s 0.8% but still above the expected 0.3%. Goods for final demand saw their biggest monthly jump since August 2023, led by food prices, which climbed 2.4%.
Prices for fresh and dry vegetables soared nearly 49%, while diesel climbed 13.9%. Service costs also rose 0.5%, led by higher prices for traveler accommodations and wholesale food, marking a third consecutive month of gains. Energy costs added further pressure, with final demand energy up 2.3% and intermediate processed energy goods jumping 5.5%, the biggest increase since August 2023.
These increases reflect ongoing supply chain challenges that are affecting prices around the world. “Energy and food costs remain major drivers, influencing both everyday spending and investor sentiment in markets like crypto,” one strategist noted.
Market Reactions and Crypto Sentiment
Stock futures are trending lower so far, with Dow Jones futures down 0.9% and the Nasdaq 100 down 0.7%, but these losses quickly proved fragile as stronger inflation data and global tensions weighed on markets.
President Trump’s calls for rate cuts added political chatter, while crypto traders pulled back on bets for multiple Fed cuts, now seeing a 64% chance of a rate reduction in September.
Related: The US National Debt Has Surpassed $38 Trillion: What’s Next for Crypto
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