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Global Producer Prices Spike on Energy Shock as Iran Conflict Roils Markets

Producer inflation accelerated sharply across major economies in April, driven by surging energy costs tied to regional geopolitical tensions. India's factory-gate prices climbed to a three-and-a-half-year peak as manufacturers grappled with elevated input expenses. The United States saw wholesale inflation jump to its fastest pace since 2022, with the producer price index rising 6% year-over-year. Core wholesale measures excluding food and energy rose 5.2% from a year earlier, marking the steepest gain in more than three years. Oil-market pressures cascaded through supply chains, with import and export prices posting their largest increases in four years. Elevated fuel costs are trickling into freight transportation expenses, pressuring logistics operators nationwide. China has partially insulated itself through strategic petroleum reserves and renewable energy diversification, but global supply chains remain vulnerable to further energy volatility.