China PPI Jumps 3.9% in May, Nears Four-Year High Due to War Costs

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In May, China's producer price index (PPI) rose by 3.9% year-over-year, marking the highest increase since July 2022 and exceeding economists' forecast of 3.8%. The surge was attributed to rising raw material costs stemming from the Iran war and increased demand in the artificial intelligence sector. Additionally, wholesale prices for fuel and power climbed by 10% year-over-year, while non-ferrous metal costs surged by 22%. Despite these increases, consumer inflation was lower than expected at 1.2%, missing the forecast of 1.3% according to a Reuters poll.