Inflation Watch A mid-month focus on inflation via Traditional Indexes, Commodity Prices, and Labor Costs

The latest CPI numbers missed expectations but we consider it a passable reading.

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While still too early to call an upturn in inflation, we believe at least expectations are perhaps low enough to make the odds in favor of upside surprises in the near term. We don’t think one small beat on the CPI is likely to turn the Fed more hawkish at the upcoming September FOMC meeting.

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The CPI numbers have disappointed five months in a row. The real bad news for inflation hawks is that the weakness in core CPI is broad-based. There is hope for inflation to stem its recent weakening trend soon as the Chinese CPI has already stabilized and started to turn up.

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Temporary and transitory? The CPI numbers have come in below estimates four months in a row.

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The CPI numbers have disappointed three months in a row. Weak commodity prices do not inspire higher inflation expectations. The global scope of inflation deceleration adds more weight to the recent soft readings. However, lower bond yields relative to nominal growth rate is inflationary and buffers the impact of weak inflation and rate hikes.

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The latest CPI numbers are slightly weaker than expected. We think expectations for higher inflation are still on the high side. The global scope of inflation deceleration adds more weight to the recent soft readings. Patience is the right approach for the reflation trade at this point.

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The latest CPI is weaker and the softness was sooner than we expected.  More alarming is the recent broad-based deterioration in economic data.  Lower inflation expectations have flattened the yield curve recently, which hurt Financial stocks. We believe inflation has likely peaked for the time being and patience is the right approach for the reflation trade at this point.

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The dovish rate hike is a positive for inflation and credit. A hawkish message right now would have been quite detrimental and self-defeating in terms of realizing two more hikes later this year. We believe achieving sustained 2-3% inflation could be harder than most people expect going forward. Overall, we are encouraged by the dovish hike but we think the real test for inflation is when the base effect starts to wane.

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CPI numbers were strong and better than expected. A big part of the recent upturn in inflation has to do with the much lower base from a year ago. We are seeing upside inflation surprises on a global basis but wage inflation is still disappointing. We are encouraged by the general uptrend in inflation data but we think the real test comes after the positive base effect subsides.

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CPI figures for December matched consensus estimates.  The Federal Reserve should be pleased to see the modest uptrend in prices.  Sustained price inflation still faces a number headwinds including: resource slack, a strong Dollar and a weakening Yuan. Energy prices saw the largest gains in 2016 after a brutal 2015. Within the Core CPI, medical care experienced notable gains.

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CPI numbers were largely in line. There are encouraging signs that inflation is turning on a global basis. The path to sustained higher inflation is not going to be a smooth one and too much enthusiasm can prematurely end this reflation theme. We are encouraged by the general uptrend in inflation and inflation expectations but certainly do not want to take higher inflation as a given.

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· Headline CPI was in line but Core CPI missed.

The powerful prospect of a huge fiscal stimulus, a substantial tax cut and meaningful deregulation stoked hopes for higher growth and inflation. The Trump-induced reflation trade is still considered risk positive.  The market is putting a lot of faith in Trump’s new policy package but its actual impact on the economy remains to be seen.

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Headline CPI was in line but Core CPI missed.  The current reading still fits the overall “Goldilocks” inflation backdrop and should be considered favorable for the risk rally. The reason behind the recent rise in inflation expectations was the market’s perception of a policy shift away from monetary easing towards fiscal easing.

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Inflation is slightly stronger than expected but has no impact on policy decisions. Right now, both the market and the data are telling the Fed to put the rate hike on hold. If the Fed decides to pass in September, there is a very good chance that the Fed might not be able to hike at all this year.

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Inflation is weak in July but the rebound in oil prices, the renewed weakness in the dollar and the strength in Chinese Yuan are all positive for inflation expectations in the near term. The disinflationary headwinds from outside of the U.S. are only getting stronger, not weaker. It’s hard to disagree with the market’s low rate hike expectations.

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The latest CPI reading is positive for the overall risk rally. We continue to recommend a more patient approach towards inflation. The key market-based drivers of inflation have turned negative. But the recent key economic numbers have mostly exceeded expectations.

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The latest jobs report disappointed but we think it’s a short term aberration as other data still point to a healthy job market. Some of the key market-based inflation drivers, however, have reversed course a bit in the last couple weeks. Patience is still the right strategy.

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Inflation exceeded expectations in April. The more durable inflation measures such as wage inflation are also improving. We characterize the recent improvement in inflation as a relief from the threat of deflation but still quite far from being a catalyst for run-away inflation.

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Inflation missed expectations in March.  The three key inflation drivers this year - oil, the Dollar and the Chinese yuan, are all going in the right direction.  The risk of being too early on the inflation call far outweighs the risk of being too late.  Patience is still recommended.

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Inflation met or modestly exceeded expectations. The three key drivers for inflation (oil, the Dollar and the Chinese yuan) continued to improve. But we are not rushing to declare victory on disinflation. “Organic” inflation, such as sustained wage inflation, has been very elusive so far.

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