U.S. wholesale costs climbed even amid the government shutdown—a sign that inflation pressures aren't just temporary noise. When supply chain hiccups usually ease things, yet prices keep rising, that tells you something structural is happening in the economy. This kind of persistent wholesale inflation filters down eventually: it affects everything from production costs to consumer goods, which matters for investors tracking macro trends. The crypto market doesn't exist in a vacuum—when traditional inflation sticks around, it reshapes how people think about asset allocation and dollar purchasing power.