The U.S. Labor Department will report on consumer prices at 7:30 a.m. CDT Wednesday with ramifications for interest rates and the U.S. dollar. At 9:30 a.m., the U.S. Energy Department releases its weekly inventory report, including ethanol production. USDA's WASDE and Crop Production reports are due out at 11 a.m. CDT, offering new-crop estimates, as well as old. The U.S. Treasury reports on the April budget at 1 p.m.
Weather
Wednesday will be dry and very cool to cold in the Midwest. Frost and freeze advisories cover much of the region early. The pattern shows a warming trend beginning during the day to more seasonal values. Precipitation will focus on the Gulf Coast and Southeast with a flash flood threat in the lower Delta. Dryness and drought concern continue in the northwestern Midwest, Northern Plains and throughout the western and northwestern U.S.