Data Analysis
The release
Released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on 18 March 2026 at 8:30 AM EDT. The Producer Price Index came in at 0.5% for February 2026, against 0.6% in January 2026. Producer prices are still rising, but more slowly than before.
It arrived at the same moment as Core Producer Price Index, so the reaction measured on this page belongs to all of them together.
How Bitcoin moved
Bitcoin was at $72,818.66 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.53% lower, and an hour later 0.47% lower. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 0.96% of its price, against 1.32% in the hour before.
Measured by Clometrix
Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 2.43x, against 2.08x for a typical PPI release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 3.97x, against a typical 2.30x. That is about what this release usually does. Both compare the quarter hour of the release with an ordinary quarter hour that same day, where 1.00x is no change: volatility is how far the price ranged, volume how much traded.
What made it matter
Since 2021, PPI releases in the two weeks before a Fed decision have moved Bitcoin about as much as those at other times: a median volatility ratio of 2.18x across 29, against 2.05x across 41. This one came out on the day of the Federal Reserve's 18 March rate decision. Its own ratio of 2.43x compares with 2.18x for those, about what its circumstances would suggest.
Its record
Across 70 PPI releases since 2021, Bitcoin's median volatility ratio is 2.08x.
What it means
Bitcoin registered an ordinary reaction to the February PPI print. The 2.43x volatility ratio sat only modestly above the 2.08x median recorded across 70 PPI releases since 2021, while the 3.97x volume ratio exceeded its typical 2.30x benchmark by a comparable margin. Price fell 0.53 percent in the first fifteen minutes and 0.47 percent after an hour, with the hourly range narrowing to 0.96 percent from 1.32 percent beforehand.
The release arrived alongside the Core PPI figure on the same morning the Federal Reserve announced its March policy decision. Releases in the two weeks before a rate decision have historically produced a 2.18x median volatility ratio for Bitcoin, close to the 2.05x median observed at other times. The 2.43x outcome therefore aligned with the pattern expected for a PPI release on a decision day. Traders reviewing the record will note that timing relative to the Fed has shown little additional influence on Bitcoin's response to PPI.
About Producer Price Index
The Producer Price Index (PPI) measures the average change over time in the prices domestic producers receive for their output. It is a measure of inflation at the wholesale level that is compiled from thousands of indexes measuring producer prices by industry and product category. The index is published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Disclaimer
The data analysis, forecasted results and projections provided herein are based on historical price action and market trends. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, these predictions are speculative and should not be considered a guarantee of future performance. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading and investing involve significant risk, and you should conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We do not assume any liability for any losses that may result from reliance on this information.
BTC-USDT
Bitcoin
Open
73,782.19Close
71,296.6924h Change
-2485.50 (-3.49%)24h High
74,672.3424h Low
70,500.0024h Volume
23,372 BTCUS Producer Price Index
Bureau of Labor Statistics
18th March, 2026, 8:30AM Timezone: America/New York
Chart Data from Binance
Observations
| Time | Open | High | Low | Close | Change | Amplitude | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Minute | |||||||
| Before | 72864.15 | 72864.16 | 72807.17 | 72818.67 | -0.06% | 0.08% | 17 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 72500.00 | 72533.81 | -0.39% | 0.44% | 205 BTC |
| 5 Minutes | |||||||
| Before | 72810.16 | 72879.28 | 72779.39 | 72818.67 | 0.01% | 0.14% | 60 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 72306.00 | 72384.19 | -0.60% | 0.70% | 426 BTC |
| 10 Minutes | |||||||
| Before | 72749.45 | 72879.28 | 72705.43 | 72818.67 | 0.10% | 0.24% | 111 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 72306.00 | 72453.18 | -0.50% | 0.70% | 585 BTC |
| 15 Minutes | |||||||
| Before | 72751.48 | 72879.28 | 72660.00 | 72818.67 | 0.09% | 0.30% | 330 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 72306.00 | 72429.39 | -0.54% | 0.70% | 723 BTC |
| 30 Minutes | |||||||
| Before | 72952.85 | 72981.79 | 72643.08 | 72818.67 | -0.18% | 0.46% | 840 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 72271.11 | 72361.24 | -0.63% | 0.75% | 980 BTC |
| 1 Hour | |||||||
| Before | 73602.91 | 73605.87 | 72643.08 | 72818.67 | -1.08% | 1.31% | 2,355 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 72117.11 | 72474.59 | -0.47% | 0.96% | 1,690 BTC |
| 2 Hours | |||||||
| Before | 74185.62 | 74211.06 | 72643.08 | 72818.67 | -1.88% | 2.11% | 3,051 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 71620.00 | 71652.21 | -1.63% | 1.65% | 3,554 BTC |
| 4 Hours | |||||||
| Before | 74045.91 | 74281.33 | 72643.08 | 72818.67 | -1.69% | 2.21% | 3,920 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 70857.21 | 71230.28 | -2.23% | 2.69% | 8,081 BTC |
| 6 Hours | |||||||
| Before | 74171.56 | 74281.33 | 72643.08 | 72818.67 | -1.86% | 2.21% | 5,240 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 70857.21 | 71684.60 | -1.58% | 2.69% | 10,239 BTC |
| 8 Hours | |||||||
| Before | 73782.19 | 74672.34 | 73535.36 | 74045.92 | 0.36% | 1.52% | 4,579 BTC |
| During | 74045.91 | 74281.33 | 70857.21 | 71230.28 | -3.95% | 4.61% | 12,001 BTC |
| 12 Hours | |||||||
| Before | 73782.19 | 74672.34 | 72643.08 | 72818.67 | -1.32% | 2.72% | 8,500 BTC |
| During | 72818.66 | 72818.66 | 70500.00 | 71296.69 | -2.13% | 3.18% | 14,872 BTC |
