Inflation

They're back!

Feb 8, 2023 2 min read

We warned you that they would be back soon. The FOMC's blackout period ended last Thursday. Fed officials have been squawking like hawks again since Friday. They are all sending more or less the same message. They are aiming to continue to hike the federal funds rate in 25bps increments a couple more times to 5.00%-5.25%. That should be restrictive enough to bring inflation down,

Ed Yardeni

Fed Chair Not Likely to Stir Things Up Tomorrow

Feb 6, 2023 2 min read

Fed Chair Jerome Powell isn't likely to upset the financial markets tomorrow if he says what he said at his press conference last week. The word “disinflation” was uttered 11 times at Powell’s presser on February 1. He was the only one who mentioned the word at his presser. He repeatedly acknowledged that inflation was moderating but still had a ways to go before reaching the Fed’

Ed Yardeni

Inflation: From Pitbull To Poodle?

Jan 27, 2023 2 min read paid

Inflation continues to moderate. In early 2022, we predicted that the headline PCED inflation rate would decline from 6%-7% during H1-2022 to 4%-5% during H2-2022 to 3%-4% in 2023. So far, so good (chart). It fell from a peak of 7% during June of last year to 5% by the end of the year.

Ed Yardeni

Q4 GDP Report Was Weak & Inflation Moderated

Jan 26, 2023 2 min read

The headlines in the financial press today suggested that Q4's real GDP was strong. On closer inspection, it was relatively weak and consistent with our view that the economy has been in a "rolling recession" since early last year when the Fed started to tighten monetary policy. Real GDP rose 2.9% (saar) following 3.2% during Q3 (chart). However, real final sales of domestic product

Ed Yardeni

Less Inflation & Growth In Three Regional Surveys

Jan 24, 2023 1 min read paid

We now have three business surveys for January conducted by the NY, Philly, and Richmond Fed district banks. Collectively, they are showing less economic growth and lower inflation. The average of their general business indexes dropped further into negative territory this month, suggesting that the M-PMI also fell further below 50.0 this month (chart).

Ed Yardeni

The Economic Week Ahead: January 23-27

Jan 22, 2023 2 min read paid

The Federal Open Mouth Committee is giving us a break. Their blackout period started on Saturday. We won't hear from them again until February 1 at 2:30 p.m. That's when Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a presser following the latest FOMC meeting. Meanwhile, corporate managements will have a lot to say during their current earnings reporting season. This week is packed with potentially

Ed Yardeni

Inflation Is Falling

Jan 18, 2023 1 min read

Interest rates fell sharply today on news that December's PPI confirmed that inflation is falling rapidly. The PPI inflation rate plunged from almost 18.0% y/y in mid-2022 to 6.2% by the end of the year (chart). Both the goods and services components of the PPI are disinflating. The PPI includes indexes for personal consumption based on prices received by the providers of the goods and

Ed Yardeni

Goldilocks, the Bears & Today's CPI

Jan 12, 2023 2 min read paid

Ed Yardeni

Small Business Owners Say Job Market Cooling

Jan 10, 2023 2 min read

December's NFIB survey of small business owners should make the Fed's hawks a bit less hawkish. They want to see evidence that the labor market is cooling and that inflationary pressures are easing. Today's NFIB report confirmed that both may be underway: (1) Fed officials have been focusing on job openings in the JOLTS report. They want to see it drop significantly indicating that

Ed Yardeni

The Economic Week Ahead Jan. 9-13

Jan 8, 2023 1 min read

The Q4-2022 earnings reporting season starts this week with the big money center banks. They are unlikely to surprise investors. Their managements may once again warn, as they have in the past, that a consumer-led recession is likely this year. That's old news, and the markets aren't likely to react to it. Besides, if the banks expect a recession, why haven't they been adding

Ed Yardeni

Happy CPI Inflation Surprise Coming Jan. 12?

Dec 29, 2022 2 min read paid

The stock market could start to discount the possibility of a lower-than-expected December CPI report, which will be released on January 12. This prediction doesn't come with a money back guarantee. However, here are some clues suggesting that inflation may be falling faster than widely expected:

Ed Yardeni

Regional Puzzle Pieces Showing Slowing Economy & Inflation

Dec 28, 2022 2 min read

Almost everyone working on Wall Street is on vacation, except for the bears. They've been munching on stock prices, especially those of some of the MegaCaps like Tesla and Apple. There was a Santa Claus rally, sort of, when the S&P 500 climbed 14% from October 12 through November 30. But it has fizzled since then as investors fretted about further Fed tightening and a recession

Ed Yardeni

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