US Producer Price Index Hits February 2023 High in December

Just spotted the latest PPI figures for the US, and damn, they're looking spicy! December's annual rate hit 3.3% - the highest we've seen since February 2023. Gotta say, I'm not thrilled about this trend.

Looking at the monthly figures, December's PPI came in at 0.2%, which is actually the lowest since September 2024. Small mercies, I guess? But that annual rate has me worried.

I've been watching these economic indicators closely for my own trading strategy, and this feels like a real mixed bag. The high annual rate suggests persistent inflationary pressures that just won't quit, despite all the Fed's chest-beating about having inflation under control.

When I see numbers like these, I can't help but think the big trading platforms are probably seeing increased volatility in interest rate derivatives. Everyone's trying to guess the Fed's next move, but these conflicting signals make positioning incredibly difficult.

What bugs me most is how these indicators keep contradicting each other. One month we're heading for a soft landing, the next we're still battling stubborn inflation. Makes me wonder if the Fed really has any clue what they're doing or if they're just making it up as they go.

For crypto and other risk assets, this kind of uncertainty usually spells trouble. I've seen enough cycles to know that when traditional economic metrics get wonky, institutional money gets nervous.

Just my two cents, but I'd be keeping a very close eye on upcoming Fed statements and adjusting positions accordingly. These PPI numbers don't lie - something's still not right in the economy.