This morning, PPI and PPI Core numbers were released for the month of March. PPI came in at 1.1%, about 0.5% higher than estimates. PPI Core came in line with estimates at 0.2%. For a quick recap of PPI and PPI Core, here’s a link to the PPI homepage at the Department of Labor. Remember that PPI is a measure of inflation and PPI Core is a measure of inflation sans food and energy. What does this mean? From my point of view, food and energy costs are rising somewhat rapidly since core rates remained the same from February to March.
Crude futures earlier in the day rose to $113.90 and settled near that level today.
Perhaps it’s a lack of experience, but if two of the most basic needs for the US population, food and energy, are increasing as a pretty good rate, as well as crude and gasoline (closed near $3.35 per gallon today) are rising as well, why is the market taking it as good news? If people are forced to spend more on food and energy, shouldn’t that result in less money available for spending, resulting in a further slowing of the economy?
Earnings Report
Washington Mutual (WM) reported a loss of $1.40 per share while Intel (INTC) came in at $0.25 per share. WM’s earnings report was in line with estimates from last week and as a result are up about $0.20 in after hours trading. INTC, while reporting earnings in line with estimates, reported margins higher than expected. It also appears that INTC is reporting earnings for the rest of the year to remain unchanged which is helping to offset any ideas of a slowdown with the chip maker. INTC’s currently up about $1.75 in after hours trading as a result.