U.S. manufacturers saw the prices they pay for raw materials increase in December, but by far less than in November, the Institute for Supply Management said Tuesday, citing its monthly survey of supply managers. In fact, an index measuring the pace of price increases fell more than it had in any other month since 2010, the group said. The move is a good sign for future consumer inflation, economists said. Not only that, but supply chain problems that have fueled the accelerating inflation improved a bit as supplier deliveries didn’t slow as much as in the previous month. Hiring got slightly easier for the fourth month in a row, too, according to the survey. “Demand remains strong as price pressures and supply problems are fading—if only incrementally,” economists at Wells Fargo Securities wrote in a commentary. “Supply chains are still a problem, though the logjam may be starting to break up.” The report adds to hopeful signs that inflation isn’t likely to get much worse before it gets better. The inflation rate reached 6.8% in November, the highest since 1982, as problems with making and transporting enough to meet demand contributed to a spike in costs for everything from groceries to gas. Have a question, comment, or story to share? You can reach Diccon at dhyatt@thebalance.com.
