The U.S. Labor Department reported Oct. 14 that inflation of producer prices in September was officially 8.7% from September 2020, and that price inflation was even higher for producer goods “for intermediate demand"—meaning capital goods or commodities used in processing before final assembly for the retail market. That signals inflationary pressure continuing to increase in the chains of production.
For example, the Energy Department advised the same day that American households using natural gas for heat will pay this winter—if it is not particularly cold—30% more for it than in 2020; those that have electric heat will pay 6% more, and the roughly 10% of households that heat with fuel oil or propane will pay 45-55% more than a year ago.
