The U.S. Department of Labor announced on the 13th that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for February remained flat compared to the previous month.

The increase was smaller than January’s 0.6% rise and fell significantly below the 0.3% forecast compiled by Dow Jones experts. Year-over-year, the PPI rose by 3.2%.

The core PPI, excluding energy and food, increased by 0.2% month-over-month, also underperforming the expected 0.3%. On a year-over-year basis, it rose by 3.3%.

Prices for final demand goods increased by 0.3% from the previous month, while final demand services prices dropped by 0.2%.

Food prices rose by 1.7%, but a 1.2% decline in energy prices offset the impact of the food price increase.

The Department of Labor noted that egg prices soared by 53.6% month-over-month, accounting for two-thirds of the rise in final demand goods prices in February.

Recently, the spread of avian influenza (AI) in the U.S. has driven egg prices skyward, raising concerns about “eggflation” (a blend of “egg” and “inflation”).

Final demand transportation and warehousing services, which saw significant increases in December and January, remained flat compared to the previous month.

The PPI, also known as wholesale prices, is considered a leading indicator of consumer prices as it reflects changes in final consumer goods prices with a time lag.

Following the previous day’s announcement that the February Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by a lower-than-expected 2.8%, the below-forecast PPI increase on this day has somewhat eased concerns about resurgent inflation.

However, considering that the effects of the Trump administration’s tariffs have not yet been factored in, vigilance regarding price pressures is expected to persist.