U.S. Markets Fall After Hot PPI Surprise

U.S. stock markets opened sharply lower on Friday, February 27, 2026, after the January Producer Price Index showed wholesale inflation rising 0.5% month-over-month and core PPI jumping 0.8% versus a 0.3% consensus. The Nasdaq led losses, down about 1.3%, as traders priced a higher-for-longer Fed outlook, with the 10-year Treasury near 3.99% ahead of the March 17-18 FOMC meeting.