March 18, 2026
United States:
Prices Paid to US Producers Increase by More Than Forecast
US wholesale inflation unexpectedly accelerated in February from a month earlier, reflecting higher costs for goods and services.
The producer price index rose 0.7% after a 0.5% gain in the prior month, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data out Wednesday. An underlying gauge of wholesale inflation that excludes food and energy increased 0.5%.
Europe:
BOE Assumptions Suggest Hawkish Tilt on UK Rates, Economists Say
The Bank of England may respond more aggressively than expected to soaring energy prices since war broke out in the Middle East because its internal models assume a large and long-lasting impact on inflation.
Work published by the central bank at the end of last year suggests it will adopt “a more hawkish tone than we expect,” according to Dan Hanson, chief UK economist at Bloomberg Economics. Taking the analysis literally, the energy shock “could well prompt a screeching hawkish turn” from recent expectations of rate cuts.
Asia:
Japan’s Export Growth Slows on China Holidays, US Tariffs Impact
Japan’s exports grew at a slower pace, as tariffs weighed on car shipments to the US fell and as demand in China slumped due to the Lunar New Year holidays.
The value of overall exports rose 4.2% in February from a year earlier, after a big jump in the previous month, the Finance Ministry reported Wednesday.
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