Wednesday, March 18th, 2026
The massive information this morning is an unexpectedly sizzling inflation report. The Producer Worth Index (PPI) for February greater than doubled estimates on headline, month over month: +0.7% for wholesale inflation final month — forward of the consensus +0.3% and the unrevised +0.5% for January. That is the fourth-straight increased headline PPI print, and the loftiest determine since July of final yr.
Stripping out unstable meals and vitality costs, core PPI nonetheless is available in hotter than anticipated, by 20 foundation factors (bps) to +0.5%. That is truly down from the earlier month, which was revised up half a full share level to +0.8%. Ex-food, vitality and commerce got here in at +0.5% as nicely, above the +0.3% projected and revised +0.4% from January.
Most analysts spend extra time on year-over-year numbers, and right here we’re warming up, too: +3.4% on headline PPI is +0.5% increased than the prior month, and the most well liked we’ve seen since January of 2025. Identical with core PPI: +3.9% is the best in 13 months, and after three-straight months hitting +3% precisely, we’ve now escalated on core PPI for 3 months in a row. Ex-food, vitality and commerce reached +3.5%, a mere +0.1% increased than the prior print.
Couple this with final week’s Private Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, which notched over +3%, and we see the Fed having a tough time chopping rates of interest within the present inflationary surroundings. (Fed Chair Jerome Powell provides his penultimate post-FOMC assembly press launch right this moment round 2:30pm ET.) And that is earlier than we think about how the assaults on Iran resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have affected oil costs to this point this month.
Earnings Studies for At this time: M, GIS & Extra
Forward of right this moment’s open, Macy’s M beat estimates in its This autumn report, with earnings of $1.67 per share simply surpassing the $1.53 within the Zacks consensus, for a +9.15% optimistic shock. Revenues of $7.64 billion within the quarter got here forward of estimates by +1.53%, although are nonetheless decrease than the year-ago quarter. Shares had zoomed increased by +9%, however have ebbed since. And the inventory remains to be digging out of a -23% gap yr so far. For extra on M’s earnings, click on right here.
Normal Mills GIS reported fiscal Q3 outcomes this morning, however missed expectations. Earnings of 64 cents per share got here up a dime shy of the Zacks consensus, whereas revenues of $4.44 billion missed by -0.94%, and have been down from the $4.84 billion reported a yr in the past. Shares are down -1.5% within the pre-market on the information. For extra on GIS’ earnings, click on right here.
After right this moment’s shut, we’ll see fiscal Q2 earnings outcomes from Zacks Rank #1 (Robust Purchase)-rated Micron MU, which is predicted to ship jaw-dropping positive aspects of +464% on earnings yr over yr and +139.7% on revenues. This is among the high chipmaking AI performs, and shares are up +62% to this point in 2026.
Specialty low cost retailer 5 Beneath FIVE additionally experiences earnings after right this moment’s closing bell. This Zacks Rank #2 (Purchase)-rated firm is predicted to fetch +14.7% positive aspects on earnings yr over yr and +22.9% on revenues. Its shares have gained almost +14% to this point this yr.
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Macy’s, Inc. (M) : Free Inventory Evaluation Report
Normal Mills, Inc. (GIS) : Free Inventory Evaluation Report
Micron Know-how, Inc. (MU) : Free Inventory Evaluation Report
5 Beneath, Inc. (FIVE) : Free Inventory Evaluation Report
This text initially revealed on Zacks Funding Analysis (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the writer and don’t essentially mirror these of Nasdaq, Inc.
