What is PPI? PPI (the Producer Price Index) measures the change over time in the selling prices that domestic producers receive for their goods and services. In the United States, US PPI data is published on a regular schedule by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and it is one of the inflation indicators financial markets follow most closely.
When US PPI comes in significantly away from forecast, expectations for inflation and for Fed policy can shift, and that feeds through to the USD, forex, gold (XAU/USD), bond yields and US equities.
For the full inflation picture, traders can also read What is CPI? How the CPI index affects forex, gold & crypto on Backcom.io.
What Is PPI? A Definition of the Producer Price Index
PPI – the Producer Price Index reflects the average change in the selling prices domestic producers receive for their output.
Put simply:
PPI shows how the prices of goods and services are changing from the producer’s point of view, before many of those products ever reach the consumer.
What Does PPI Stand For? Not to Be Confused With the Drug Class
In economics:
PPI = Producer Price Index.
That is the sense of PPI you will meet on:
- Economic calendars.
- Forex Factory.
- Investing.com.
- US economic reports.
- Analysis of the USD, gold and bonds.
In medicine, however, PPI also stands for proton pump inhibitor, a class of drugs that reduces stomach acid. The two meanings have nothing to do with each other.
Throughout this article, PPI is used only in the sense of the Producer Price Index.
How the PPI Index Is Calculated Under the BLS Formula
According to the BLS, PPI is conceptually calculated using a modified Laspeyres formula.
The formula in simple terms:
PPIₜ = [Σ(Qᵦ × Pₜ) / Σ(Qᵦ × P₀)] × 100
Where:
- PPIₜ: the price index in the current period.
- Qᵦ: the quantity in the base period.
- Pₜ: the price in the current period.
- P₀: the price in the comparison period.
In practice the calculation is more involved. The BLS applies weights based on shipment values or revenue, and updates those weights periodically to reflect changes in the structure of production.
Official source: BLS – Producer Price Index Calculation.
The Structure of the Basket Behind US PPI
In plain terms, PPI captures price movement across several stages of the production chain, rather than a single fixed “basket of goods” the way CPI does.
The 4 PPI Figures Every Trader Should Know
On the economic calendar, traders usually meet four headline numbers:
| Figure | What it means | Traders use it to |
|---|---|---|
| PPI MoM | Versus the previous month | Judge short-term movement |
| PPI YoY | Versus the same period a year earlier | See the longer inflation trend |
| Core PPI MoM | Core PPI, month on month | Track underlying price pressure |
| Core PPI YoY | Core PPI, year on year | Assess the underlying price trend |
PPI MoM (Versus the Previous Month)
PPI MoM (month over month) measures the change in producer prices against the immediately preceding month, which helps traders gauge short-term inflationary pressure.
- PPI MoM rising: producer prices are climbing faster.
- PPI MoM falling: price pressure is showing signs of cooling.
- Actual above Forecast: usually read as inflation running hotter than expected.
- Actual below Forecast: may indicate weaker inflationary pressure than forecast.
Follow PPI MoM alongside Core PPI MoM and the trend of the last few months, rather than relying on a single release.
PPI YoY (Versus the Same Period a Year Earlier)
PPI YoY (year over year) measures the change in producer prices against the same month of the previous year, giving traders a clearer view of the longer inflation trend.
- PPI YoY rising: producer price pressure is building.
- PPI YoY falling: inflation on the production side is cooling.
- Actual above Forecast: can support expectations that the Fed keeps policy tight for longer.
- Actual below Forecast: can ease concerns about inflation.
Compared with PPI MoM, PPI YoY is less affected by short-term swings, which makes it better suited to assessing the price trend over 12 months.
Core PPI MoM (Excluding Food & Energy)
Core PPI MoM measures the change in producer prices against the previous month after stripping out food and energy — two groups that tend to be highly volatile.
- Core PPI rising: underlying price pressure may be strengthening.
- Core PPI falling: core inflation on the production side is showing signs of cooling.
- Actual above Forecast: tends to leave the market worried that inflation is more persistent.
- Actual below Forecast: can reduce expectations that the Fed keeps policy tight.
Traders usually follow Core PPI MoM together with PPI MoM to separate a one-off move from the underlying price trend.
Core PPI YoY
Core PPI YoY measures the change in core producer prices against the same period a year earlier, after food and energy have been excluded.
- Core PPI YoY rising: underlying price pressure remains high.
- Core PPI YoY falling: inflation on the production side is easing.
- Actual above Forecast: can raise expectations that the Fed holds rates high for longer.
- Actual below Forecast: can support expectations of less restrictive monetary policy.
Follow Core PPI YoY together with PPI YoY to judge whether inflationary pressure is coming from short-term volatility or is more persistent.
PPI vs CPI vs PCE vs PMI — the Differences Traders Need
PPI, CPI, PCE and PMI are all important economic indicators, but they measure different aspects of the economy:
| Indicator | What it primarily measures | Point of view |
|---|---|---|
| PPI | Producer prices | The producer |
| CPI | Consumer prices | The consumer |
| PCE | Consumer spending and prices | The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge |
| PMI | Business activity | The health of manufacturing and services |
Combine these indicators to assess inflation, growth and expectations for Fed policy, rather than relying on any single data point.
PPI vs CPI — Same Inflation, Different Angle
PPI and CPI both reflect price movement, but they measure it at two different stages:
- PPI: measures prices from the producer’s side.
- CPI: measures the prices of goods and services that consumers actually pay.
A simple way to think about it:
PPI → producer prices → CPI → consumer prices
When PPI rises sharply, businesses may pass part of the cost on to buyers, which then puts pressure on CPI. Even so, a rise in PPI does not guarantee that CPI will rise — it also depends on profit margins, demand, and how much pricing power businesses have.
PPI vs PCE — the Fed’s Preferred Gauge
PPI reflects price movement on the producer side, while PCE measures the price level of consumer goods and services.
- PPI: shows price pressure within the production chain.
- PCE: reflects broader consumer inflation.
- Core PCE: the gauge the Fed watches particularly closely when assessing the inflation trend.
PPI is therefore usually treated as an early signal of price pressure, while PCE carries more weight in judging the Fed’s inflation target and the outlook for monetary policy.
PPI vs PMI — the Health of the Manufacturing Sector
PPI measures movement in producer prices, whereas PMI reflects whether business activity is expanding or contracting.
- PPI: tells you whether price pressure is rising or falling.
- PMI > 50: business activity is tending to expand.
- PMI < 50: business activity is tending to contract.
Reading the two together lets you assess inflation and the health of the economy at the same time, and understand the outlook for the USD and Fed policy more clearly.
The US PPI Release Calendar for 2026 (Latest Update)
US PPI is published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The usual release time is 8:30 AM Eastern Time.
Official calendar source: BLS – PPI Release Schedule.
When in the Month Is PPI Released?
PPI has no fixed calendar date such as the 10th or the 15th of each month.
Data for the previous month is normally published during the following month, but the specific date is set by the BLS.
In Vietnam time:
- While the US is on EDT: roughly 19:30 Vietnam time.
- While the US is on EST: roughly 20:30 Vietnam time.
Re-check the BLS schedule or your economic calendar before each release, because the publication date can change.
The 13 US PPI Release Dates in 2026
Note: calendar year 2026 is an unusual case. The current BLS schedule contains 13 PPI releases, because the November 2025 data was moved to 14 January 2026 and the December 2025 data was published on 30 January 2026, following the schedule changes tied to the 2025 budget disruption.
| PPI reference period | Release date | UTC (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | 14 January 2026 | 13:30 |
| December 2025 | 30 January 2026 | 13:30 |
| January 2026 | 27 February 2026 | 13:30 |
| February 2026 | 18 March 2026 | 12:30 |
| March 2026 | 14 April 2026 | 12:30 |
| April 2026 | 13 May 2026 | 12:30 |
| May 2026 | 11 June 2026 | 12:30 |
| June 2026 | 15 July 2026 | 12:30 |
| July 2026 | 13 August 2026 | 12:30 |
| August 2026 | 10 September 2026 | 12:30 |
| September 2026 | 15 October 2026 | 12:30 |
| October 2026 | 13 November 2026 | 13:30 |
| November 2026 | 15 December 2026 | 13:30 |
The table above has been checked against the official BLS PPI release schedule.
How to Follow US PPI in Real Time on Investing.com and Forex Factory
There are three sources traders can use to follow PPI:
1. BLS
The official source, and the one to prefer when confirming the data.
2. Investing.com
Easy to track:
- Actual.
- Forecast.
- Previous.
- PPI MoM.
- PPI YoY.
- Core PPI.
3. Forex Factory
Good for a quick day-by-day view of the calendar, impact level, Forecast and Previous.
→ Forex Factory – Economic Calendar
Traders can also follow economic-data updates and market commentary on the Backcom Blog.
How Does US PPI Affect the Markets?
US PPI can move markets sharply, because the data feeds expectations about inflation and the Fed’s interest-rate policy.
The chain of effects is usually understood like this:
PPI → inflation expectations → Fed expectations → USD & bond yields → gold, forex and equities
Prioritise comparing Actual against Forecast, rather than simply looking at whether PPI rose or fell versus the previous period.
Impact on the USD (DXY) and the Major Forex Pairs
PPI can move the USD through inflation expectations and the Fed’s interest-rate policy.
- PPI above forecast: can strengthen the USD if the market expects the Fed to hold rates high for longer.
- PPI below forecast: can put downward pressure on the USD.
- PPI close to forecast: the reaction is usually limited, and the market turns its attention to Core PPI and other data.
The pairs that typically move most on a US PPI release are EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY and USD/CAD.
Watch the DXY and US bond yields as well, to confirm which way the USD is really reacting after the release.
Impact on the Gold Price (XAU/USD)
PPI affects the gold price mainly through interest-rate expectations, bond yields and the strength of the USD.
- PPI above forecast: the USD and yields can rise, putting downward pressure on gold.
- PPI below forecast: expectations of a less restrictive Fed can support the gold price.
- PPI close to forecast: gold usually reacts more mildly, and depends further on Core PPI.
Follow PPI, the DXY and US bond yields together for a more accurate read on where XAU/USD goes after the data lands.
Impact on US Treasuries (the US10Y Yield)
PPI can affect US bond yields directly, the US10Y in particular, through inflation and rate expectations.
- PPI above forecast: the market may expect the Fed to hold rates high for longer → bond yields rise.
- PPI below forecast: inflationary pressure eases → yields can fall.
- PPI close to forecast: the US10Y usually reacts more mildly, and depends further on Core PPI, CPI or PCE.
For forex and gold traders, the US10Y is an important indicator for confirming how the market has taken the PPI release.
Impact on US Equities (the S&P 500)
PPI can affect the S&P 500 through interest-rate expectations and companies’ input costs.
- PPI above forecast: can heighten concern that the Fed holds rates high for longer, weighing on equities.
- PPI below forecast: can support expectations of rate cuts and improve sentiment towards stocks.
- PPI rising strongly over a sustained period: higher production costs can compress corporate profit margins.
That said, how the S&P 500 reacts also depends on CPI, PCE, bond yields, economic growth and what the market already expects.
Summary
What is PPI? PPI is the index measuring price change from the producer’s side, and it is important data for assessing inflationary pressure in the economy.
Points for traders to keep in mind:
- Follow PPI, Core PPI, MoM and YoY together.
- Prioritise comparing Actual against Forecast when the data is released.
- US PPI above forecast can support the USD and bond yields, while weighing on gold and equities.
- US PPI below forecast usually creates expectations of cooling inflation and a less restrictive Fed.
Even so, the PPI index should not be used on its own to justify a trade. Combine it with CPI, PCE, the DXY, the US10Y and the market’s actual price reaction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is a Rising PPI Good or Bad?
A rise in PPI is not straightforwardly good or bad. For traders, what matters most is PPI against forecast:
- Above forecast: inflationary pressure may be stronger.
- Below forecast: inflation on the production side is showing signs of cooling.
How Does PPI Differ From CPI?
The main difference is what each one measures:
- PPI: measures prices from the producer’s side.
- CPI: measures the prices of goods and services that consumers actually pay.
PPI usually flags price pressure earlier in the production chain, while CPI is a more direct reflection of consumer inflation.
What Is Core PPI, and Why Does the Market Care?
Core PPI is the core reading, which normally excludes food and energy because those two groups are highly volatile.
Traders follow Core PPI to assess the underlying inflation trend, rather than looking only at short-term price swings.
What Time Is US PPI Released (in Vietnam Time)?
US PPI is normally released at 8:30 AM US Eastern Time.
Converted to Vietnam time, that is usually:
- 19:30 while the US is on summer time.
- 20:30 while the US is on winter time.
Check the economic calendar before each release so you don’t get the time wrong.
Which Agency Publishes the US PPI Index?
US PPI is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), part of the U.S. Department of Labor.
That is the official source for checking both PPI figures and the release schedule.
Is Vietnam’s PPI Different From US PPI?
Yes. Both Vietnam and the United States publish a producer price index, but the industry composition, the weights and the statistical methodology can differ.
For the international forex market, US PPI is followed far more closely, because it can affect the USD and expectations for Fed policy.
How Does PPI Influence the Fed’s Interest-Rate Decisions?
The Fed does not set rates on PPI alone; it also weighs PCE, CPI, employment, growth and inflation expectations.
That said, a strong and sustained rise in PPI can indicate that price pressure on the production side remains high, which in turn leads the market to expect the Fed to keep monetary policy tight for longer.
