US CPI inflation is the fundamental highlight of the week

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Introduction: The US Federal Reserve (FED) spoke last week, and the US federal funds rate was left unchanged at its level since last December. Unlike the European Central Bank (ECB) and other major central banks, the FED has yet to resume cutting its interest rate, despite intense verbal pressure from Donald Trump.
This week (May 12), it's the CPI US inflation update that is the fundamental highlight of the week. Indeed, Jerome Powell is demanding more confirmation of disinflation to consider resuming rate cuts.


1) US inflation rate resumed its decline this spring according to the CPI and PCE inflation indices
High-finance circles are astonished by the FED's slowness to match the ECB's rate cuts, when the downward trend in inflation curves has been confirmed in the US by the latest updates of the PCE (the FED's favorite inflation index) and the CPI.
But it seems that Jerome Powell's FED is waiting to see the outcome of the trade diplomacy to be sure that the tariff war will not push inflation back up.
The chart below shows the curves for nominal US inflation and underlying US inflation, and their update on Tuesday May 13 is the dominant fundamental factor of the week. If the fall in the inflation rate is confirmed, the likelihood of the FED cutting its interest rate in June or July will increase, and vice versa.
snapshot


2) Real-time inflation indicators are optimistic
There are a number of real-time inflation indicators, most of which are ahead of official inflation. This is particularly true of TRUFLATION, the real-time measure of true US inflation, which is already below the FED's 2% target, thanks in large part to the fall in oil prices and the decline in real estate inflation.
snapshot


3) But fears of a rebound in inflation are strong, especially among US consumers.

But we must remain cautious, as there is a risk of inflation rebounding in the coming months. This risk is present as long as the United States has not signed trade agreements with its main trading partners, notably China and the European Union. It is essential to limit tariffs as much as possible to neutralize any risk of a rebound in inflation, a real risk if US consumer inflation expectations are anything to go by.
snapshot

Conclusion: US CPI inflation on Tuesday 13th should therefore be kept under very close watch. Confirmation of a fall in the inflation rate would be good news for the equity market, as it would bring the next FED rate cut closer in time.





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