Producer Prices Jump by Most in 32 Years

he producer price index jumped 2% in November, the most since 1974, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

The “core” producer price index excluding food and energy rose 1.3%, Labor said, the biggest increase since 1980.

The increase followed a 1.6% drop in October. That month’s core rate of 0.9% decline was the biggest dip in 13 years.

An increase in the PPI could indicate strong demand for goods, which would mean more shipments for trucking companies. However, if inflation begins to accelerate too quickly, it could also hurt the economy.