August 2026 Producer Price Index

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

The Producer Price Index for final demand moved up 0.4 percent in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices rose 0.1 percent in July and decreased 0.1 percent in June. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand increased 5.4 percent for the 12 months ended in August.

In August, the index for final demand goods advanced 1.1 percent, and prices for final demand services increased 0.1 percent.

The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.3 percent in August after moving up 0.4 percent in July. For the 12 months ended in August, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services advanced 4.7 percent.

Final Demand

Final demand goods: The index for final demand goods advanced 1.1 percent in August following two consecutive decreases. Over three-fourths of the broad-based rise can be attributed to prices for final demand energy, which moved up 4.2 percent. The indexes for final demand goods less foods and energy and for final demand foods increased 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

Product detail: Over a third of the August increase in the index for final demand goods can be traced to prices for diesel fuel, which jumped 24.1 percent. The indexes for gasoline, jet fuel, home heating oil, candy and nuts, and tobacco products also advanced. In contrast, prices for residential electric power fell 0.5 percent. The indexes for fresh sausage and for aluminum mill shapes also decreased. (See table 2.)

Final demand services: The index for final demand services edged up 0.1 percent in August, the third consecutive increase. The August advance can be attributed to a 2.3-percent rise in prices for final demand transportation and warehousing services. Conversely, the index for final demand trade services moved down 0.2 percent, while prices for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing were unchanged.

Product detail: Leading the August increase in the index for final demand services, prices for truck transportation of freight advanced 2.0 percent. The indexes for airline passenger services, legal services, hospital inpatient care, and automobiles retailing (partial) also rose. In contrast, margins for fuels and lubricants retailing decreased 11.3 percent. The indexes for health, beauty, and optical goods retailing; machinery and equipment wholesaling; and portfolio management also moved lower.

Intermediate Demand by Commodity Type

Within intermediate demand in August, the index for processed goods increased 1.8 percent, prices for unprocessed goods advanced 1.1 percent, and the index for services rose 0.3 percent. (See tables B and C.)

Processed goods for intermediate demand: The index for processed goods for intermediate demand moved up 1.8 percent in August after falling 0.4 percent in July. Over 80 percent of the advance is attributable to prices for processed energy goods, which increased 7.3 percent. The index for processed materials less foods and energy rose 0.5 percent. Conversely, prices for processed foods and feeds inched down 0.1 percent. For the 12 months ended in August, the index for processed goods for intermediate demand advanced 11.5 percent.

Product detail: Nearly two-thirds of the August rise in the index for processed goods for intermediate demand can be traced to a 24.1-percent increase in prices for diesel fuel. The indexes for jet fuel; gasoline; printed circuit assemblies, boards, modules, and modems; basic organic chemicals; and heating oil also moved higher. In contrast, prices for fluid milk products decreased 3.1 percent. The indexes for aluminum mill shapes and for utility natural gas also declined.

Unprocessed goods for intermediate demand: The index for unprocessed goods for intermediate demand advanced 1.1 percent in August following a 0.7-percent increase in July. Nearly 60 percent of the August rise is attributable to prices for unprocessed nonfood materials less energy, which moved up 2.1 percent. The index for unprocessed energy materials advanced 1.5 percent. Conversely, prices for unprocessed foodstuffs and feedstuffs edged down 0.1 percent. For the 12 months ended in August, the index for unprocessed goods for intermediate demand increased 12.8 percent.

Product detail: A 3.7-percent rise in prices for nonferrous scrap was a major factor in the August advance in the index for unprocessed goods for intermediate demand. Prices for crude petroleum; slaughter poultry; corn; nonferrous metal ores; and hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds also increased. In contrast, the index for slaughter cattle fell 6.4 percent. Prices for natural gas and for iron and steel scrap also decreased.

Services for intermediate demand: The index for services for intermediate demand increased 0.3 percent in August after inching up 0.1 percent in July. About 70 percent of the August advance can be attributed to a 1.3-percent rise in prices for transportation and warehousing services for intermediate demand. Margins for trade services for intermediate demand moved up 1.0 percent. Conversely, the index for services less trade, transportation, and warehousing for intermediate demand declined 0.1 percent. For the 12 months ended in August, prices for services for intermediate demand increased 5.1 percent.

Product detail: A major factor in the August advance in prices for services for intermediate demand was the index for courier, messenger, and U.S. postal services, which rose 1.5 percent. The indexes for legal services; truck transportation of freight; airline passenger services; loan services (partial); and hardware, building material, and supplies retailing also moved higher. In contrast, prices for management, scientific, and technical consulting services fell 4.6 percent. The indexes for temporary help services and for fuels and lubricants retailing also decreased.

Intermediate Demand by Production Flow

Stage 4 intermediate demand: Prices for stage 4 intermediate demand rose 0.4 percent in August, the same as in both July and June. In August, the index for total goods inputs to stage 4 intermediate demand advanced 0.7 percent, and prices for total services inputs moved up 0.2 percent. (See table D.) Rising prices for diesel fuel; transportation of freight and mail; legal services; printed circuit assemblies, boards, modules, and modems; gasoline; and automotive job stampings outweighed decreases in the indexes for management, scientific, and technical consulting services; portfolio management; and aluminum mill shapes. For the 12 months ended in August, prices for stage 4 intermediate demand moved up 6.7 percent.

Stage 3 intermediate demand: The index for stage 3 intermediate demand increased 0.8 percent in August after falling 0.2 percent in July. In August, prices for total goods inputs to stage 3 intermediate demand advanced 1.0 percent, and the index for total services inputs moved up 0.5 percent. Rising prices for diesel fuel; slaughter poultry; cable network advertising time sales; truck transportation of freight; printed circuit assemblies, boards, modules and modems; and legal services outweighed declines in the indexes for raw milk; slaughter cattle; and management, scientific, and technical consulting services. For the 12 months ended in August, prices for stage 3 intermediate demand advanced 6.5 percent.

Stage 2 intermediate demand: The index for stage 2 intermediate demand increased 0.8 percent in August after edging down 0.1 percent in July. In August, prices for total goods inputs to stage 2 intermediate demand rose 1.8 percent, and the index for total services inputs advanced 0.1 percent. Increasing prices for crude petroleum, diesel fuel, legal services, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, and paperboard outweighed decreases in the indexes for natural gas; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; and fuels and lubricants retailing. For the 12 months ended in August, prices for stage 2 intermediate demand jumped 9.7 percent.

Stage 1 intermediate demand: The index for stage 1 intermediate demand increased 1.4 percent in August after declining 0.1 percent in July. In August, prices for total goods inputs to stage 1 intermediate demand jumped 2.1 percent, and the index for total services inputs moved up 0.5 percent. Rising prices for diesel fuel, nonferrous scrap, basic organic chemicals, jet fuel, gasoline, and truck transportation of freight outweighed decreases in the indexes for fuels and lubricants retailing, iron and steel scrap, and portfolio management. For the 12 months ended in August, prices for stage 1 intermediate demand advanced 11.3 percent.

The Producer Price Index news release for September 2026 is scheduled to be published on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).