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Wholesale deflation in the country was recorded at 0.58 per cent in July — the lowest level of inflation in two years, official data showed on Thursday. This marks a second straight month of wholesale deflation.  

Measured by the Wholesale Price Index and also known as headline inflation, wholesale inflation is the rate of increase in the wholesale prices of select items. A negative reading of the Wholesale Price Index indicates wholesale deflation — also known as negative inflation. 

The latest reading comes days after separate official data showed domestic consumer inflation hit an eight-year low of 1.55 per cent in July. 

In the fuel and power category, wholesale deflation changed to 2.43 per cent in July from 2.65 per cent in the previous month.

Food deflation — measured by the WPI Food (WPI-F) index — came in at 2.15 per cent in July, versus 0.26 per cent in the previous month. 

Manufacturing product inflation worsened to 2.05 per cent in July from 1.97 per cent in June. 

In the primary article group, WPI deflation came in at 4.95 per cent last month, as against 3.38 per cent in June. 

Core inflation — or inflation excluding volatile items like food and energy — was recorded at 1.1 per cent in July, rising by 10 basis points (bps) from 1.0 per cent in June. 

A core inflation reading gives a more stable and accurate reading of inflation over a period of time by stripping out categories known for sharp, short-term price swings.

ALSO READ | Repo rate vs Loan EMI: How future RBI repo rate cuts may impact your home, auto and personal loan EMIs

Inflation and RBI

The Reserve Bank of India governor-led Monetary Policy Committee targets to contain consumer inflation within 2 per cent of a medium-term target of 4 per cent.

It tracks retail inflation data primarily to formulate its monetary policy. 

ALSO READ | Rate cut likely in next RBI MPC meet amid global developments: Morgan Stanley

 

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale inflation surged unexpectedly last month, signaling that President Donald Trump’s sweeping taxes on imports are pushing costs up and that higher prices for consumers may be on the way.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers— rose 0.9% last month from June, biggest jump in more than three years. Compared with a year earlier, wholesale prices rose 3.3%.

The numbers were much higher than economists had expected.

Prices rose faster for producers than consumers last month, suggesting that U.S. importers may, for now, be eating the cost of Trump’s tariffs rather than passing them on to customers.

That may not last.

“It will only be a matter of time before producers pass their higher tariff-related costs onto the backs of inflation-weary consumers,” wrote Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at fwdbonds, a financial markets research firm.

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core producer prices rose 0.9% from June, biggest month-over-month jump since March 2022. Compared with a year ago, core wholesale prices rose 3.7% after posting a 2.6% year-over-year jump in June.

Wholesale food prices rose 1.4% from June, led by a 38.9% surge in vegetable prices. The price of home electronic equipment gained 5% from June. Both are heavily imported in the U.S.

But some aspects of Thursday’s producer price report were puzzling, including a big jump in profit margins at retailers and wholesalers. Economist Stephen Brown at Capital Economics found the increase “to put it lightly, counterintuitive given the anecdotal evidence that firms are absorbing the lion’s share of tariff increases in margins.’’

Trump’s tariffs have generated considerable uncertainty about the U.S. economy, the world’s largest, which could explain some seemingly contradictory trends. Trump has negotiated trade agreements with several major U.S. trading partners, including the European Union and Japan. But the details have not been published, leaving businesses uncertain about where tariff rates will end up and therefore whether and how they should adjust their own prices.

The fallout from the tariffs has also been delayed because many importers stockpiled products before the taxes took effect. Those inventories are diminishing, however.

What’s more, the U.S. courts are hearing a challenge to Trump’s most sweeping tariffs and could strike them down.

The wholesale inflation report two days after the Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 2.7% last month from July 2024, same as the previous month and up from a post-pandemic low of 2.3% in April. Core consumer prices rose 3.1%, up from 2.9% in June. Both figures are above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

The new consumer price numbers suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are partly offsetting the impacts of Trump’s tariffs. Many businesses are also likely still absorbing much of the cost of the duties instead of passing them along to customers via higher prices.

The producer and consumer inflation numbers are both issued by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is already in Trump crosshairs.

After the BLS issued a disappointing jobs report for July, Trump fired the director of the BLS, groundlessly accusing the bureau of rigging the numbers for political reasons. Trump then nominated a partisan idealogue to replace her, raising fears of political interference in economic data that investors, policymakers, businesses and the Federal Reserve rely on to make decisions.

Thursday’s report is likely to complicate decisions for the Fed. After an ominous July jobs report – which also showed that hiring was much weaker than originally reported in May and June – the central bank was widely expected to cut interest rates at its meeting next month in a bid to recharge hiring.

The Fed has drawn Trump’s ire for not cutting interest rates already. Under Chair Jerome Powell, it had been delaying rate cuts until better understood the impact of Trump’s tariffs on inflation. “This report is a strong validation of the Fed’s wait-and-see stance on policy changes,’’ Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a commentary Thursday. “It will mean a markdown of market expectations for a September rate cut.’’

Wholesale prices can offer an early look at where consumer inflation might be headed. Economists also watch it because some of its components, notably measures of health care and financial services, flow into the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, index.

The PCE inflation numbers for July are due out Aug. 29.

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The New Era of Tariff Diplomacy: How Trump’s Trade War is Rewriting the Rules for Big Tech and Wall Street

Two-thirds of consumers could bear the brunt of recent tariffs by fall, according to Goldman Sachs – a prediction that drew a sharp rebuke from former President Trump, who suggested CEO David Solomon stick to his DJ gig. But beyond the political sparring, a critical shift is underway: a new form of economic negotiation where access to the U.S. market is increasingly tied to direct deals, and the lines between trade policy and corporate strategy are blurring.

The Inflationary Pressure Cooker

Goldman Sachs isn’t alone in forecasting tariff-driven inflation. Economists at UBS and JPMorgan Chase echo the sentiment, estimating potential price increases ranging from 1% to 1.5%. While economic forecasts are notoriously fallible – remember the widespread predictions of a 2023 recession that never materialized? – the consensus view suggests consumers will ultimately pay the price for escalating trade tensions. This isn’t simply about higher prices; it’s about a potential reshaping of consumer spending habits and a slowdown in economic growth.

Big Tech’s Bargains: A Precedent for Future Deals?

The more striking development isn’t the predicted inflation, but the response from tech giants. Apple, Nvidia, and Advanced Micro Devices have all reportedly struck agreements with the Trump administration to secure more favorable tariff treatment. This isn’t a traditional lobbying effort; it’s a direct negotiation for market access. “The flurry of deal-making is an effort to secure lighter treatment from tariffs,” explains Paolo Pescatore, technology analyst at PP Foresight. These companies, facing significant profit pressures, simply couldn’t absorb the additional costs.

The Implications for Supply Chains

This trend has profound implications for global supply chains. Companies are now incentivized to proactively engage in direct negotiations with governments, rather than relying on established trade frameworks. This could lead to a fragmentation of the global trading system, with bilateral deals superseding multilateral agreements. Expect to see more companies diversifying their manufacturing bases – not necessarily to avoid tariffs, but to gain leverage in future negotiations. The focus will shift from optimizing for cost to optimizing for political risk mitigation.

Beyond Tariffs: The Rise of “Strategic Compliance”

What’s happening isn’t just about tariffs; it’s about a broader concept of “strategic compliance.” Companies are increasingly recognizing that navigating the geopolitical landscape requires more than just legal adherence. It demands building relationships with key policymakers and proactively addressing their concerns. This is particularly true in sectors deemed strategically important, such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The agreements between tech companies and the Trump administration signal a willingness to offer concessions – potentially in areas like data privacy or technology transfer – in exchange for favorable regulatory treatment.

The Wall Street Wildcard: Economic Forecasts as Political Footballs

The public spat between Trump and **Goldman Sachs** highlights another critical dynamic: the politicization of economic forecasting. Trump’s criticism of Solomon and his economists underscores a growing distrust of traditional economic analysis, particularly when it challenges the administration’s narrative. This creates a challenging environment for financial institutions, forcing them to carefully calibrate their public statements and anticipate potential political backlash. The incident also raises questions about the independence of economic advisors and the potential for political interference in financial markets.

Looking Ahead: A World of Bilateral Bargains

The current situation isn’t a temporary anomaly. It’s a harbinger of a new era of trade diplomacy, characterized by bilateral bargains, strategic compliance, and the politicization of economic analysis. Companies will need to develop sophisticated strategies for navigating this complex landscape, investing in government relations, diversifying their supply chains, and proactively managing political risk. The days of relying on predictable trade rules are over. The future belongs to those who can master the art of the deal – and perhaps, like David Solomon, have a backup plan.

What are your predictions for the future of trade negotiations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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