US CPI inflation set to rebound slightly in November,core to remain high.
The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for November, a key measure of inflation, will be unveiled on Wednesday at 13:30 GMT by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Markets are buzzing in anticipation, as the release could trigger significant swings in the US Dollar (USD) and influence the Federal Reserve's (Fed) plans for interest rates in the months ahead.
As measured by the CPI, inflation in the US is expected to increase at an annual rate of 2.7% in November, slightly higher than the 2.6% growth reported in the previous month. Core annual CPI inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is projected to remain steady at 3.3% during the same period.
On a monthly basis, the headline CPI and core CPI are forecasted to rise by 0.3% each.
Previewing the October inflation report, TD Securities analysts said: “We look for core inflation to stay largely unchanged in November, registering another firm 0.3% m/m advance. Rising goods prices are expected to explain most of the strength in the series, while slowing housing inflation is likely to provide some relief. On a y/y basis, headline CPI inflation is expected to inch higher to 2.7% while core inflation likely stayed unchanged at 3.3%.”
In his latest remarks at an event hosted by the New York Times on December 4, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell shared that the central bank's approach to future interest rate adjustments could take a more measured pace, thanks to the economy's stronger-than-anticipated performance this year.
Reflecting on the economic growth, Powell noted that the resilience had surpassed earlier forecasts, allowing the Fed to adopt a more cautious stance as it works toward finding a "neutral" rate policy. He acknowledged that "the economy is strong, and it’s stronger than we thought in September," even as inflation has been running slightly higher than anticipated.
Powell explained that this backdrop is shaping the Fed's outlook as it prepares for its upcoming meeting on December 17-18, a session that markets had widely expected to result in another rate cut.(Cay)
Source: Investing.com
