U.S. wholesale inflation surged last month, a sign that Pres. Donald Trump’s tariffs are boosting costs and higher prices may be on the way. Photo by Markus Winkler, Unsplash.

By Brett Rowland
The Center Square

CHICAGO — U.S. wholesale inflation surged last month, a sign that Pres. Donald Trump’s tariffs are boosting costs and higher prices may be on the way.

The Producer Price Index for final demand climbed 0.9% in July, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday, Aug. 14. Final demand prices were unchanged in June and moved up 0.4% in May. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand advanced 3.3% for the 12 months ended in July, the largest 12-month increase since rising 3.4% in February of this year.

Prices for final demand goods increased 0.7%. The index for final demand — less foods, energy, and trade services — moved up 0.6% in July, the largest increase since rising 0.9% in March 2022.

Spencer Hakimian, founder of Tolou Capital Management, called it the return of inflation.

“As I’ve been warning you all for months, we have a massive inflation problem in the United States again,” he wrote on X.

For the 12 months ended in July, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services advanced 2.8%.