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

Apr 17 2014

Inflation Beats Expectations

  • Apr 17, 2014

Inflation increased and beat expectations. Capacity utilization increased more than expected too, a sign that the slack is being worked off. A much more persistent trend in wage inflation is necessary for a sustained inflationary environment and we are still not there yet. Inflation will be a non-factor in the 1st half of 2014.  Inflation on the producers’ level is still well contained in a narrow range.

Mar 21 2014

Inflation Still Modest

  • Mar 21, 2014

Inflation is still modest and in line with expectations. Hourly earnings rose, but wage inflation probably has to go much higher to make its impact felt.  The U.S. has been importing disinflation from the rest of the world and the import prices reflect that. Inflation will be a non-factor in the 1st half of 2014. Inflation on the producers’ level is modest too despite the recent surge in Crude Materials PPI.

Feb 21 2014

Inflation Pressure Anemic

  • Feb 21, 2014

Inflation is modest and broadly in line with expectations. Labor costs have stabilized, but the global disinflationary trend has not changed. We maintain our view that inflation will be a non-factor in the first half of 2014, but it might increase moderately in the second half. Inflation on the producers’ level is weak, too and the PPI inflation pipeline doesn’t seem to pose any immediate inflationary threat either.

Jan 17 2014

Inflation Pressure Anemic

  • Jan 17, 2014

Inflation measures are broadly in line with expectations, and overall inflation pressure is anemic.  We maintain our view that inflation will be a non-factor in the first half of 2014, and it might increase moderately in the second half.  Inflation on the producers’ level is weak, too and the PPI inflation pipeline doesn’t seem to pose any immediate inflationary threat either.

Dec 18 2013

Inflation - Still Missing

  • Dec 18, 2013

Inflation measures are going lower still, and the lack of inflation is one of the biggest hurdles for the Fed to start tapering. We maintain our view that inflation will be a non-factor for the next six months, but it will increase moderately in the following six months. We expect weakening inflation on the producers’ level too. Disinflation is consistent across various measures.

Nov 22 2013

Inflation Lower Still

  • Nov 22, 2013

We maintain our view that inflation will be a non-factor for the next six months but will increase moderately in the following six months.

Oct 31 2013

Inflation - Tilting Lower

  • Oct 31, 2013

Inflation measures are tilting lower. The Fed does not see the low inflation reading reverting to a more normal level any time soon. We maintain our view that inflation will be a non-factor for the next six months but will increase moderately in the following six months. Inflation on the producers’ level weakened too. We don’t anticipate a big rise in the near term.

Sep 18 2013

Inflation - Still Going Nowhere

  • Sep 18, 2013

Inflation measures are anemic and mostly lower than expectations. We maintain our view that inflation will be a non-factor for the next six months but will increase moderately in the following six months. Inflation on the producers’ level to be modest too. We don’t see strong evidence for a big rise in the near term.

Oct 05 2011

Near Term Measures Pointing Toward Lessening Of Inflation Pressures

  • Oct 5, 2011

Twelve month rates of change will not rise much from current levels through the rest of 2011.

Oct 05 2008

CPI Expected To Decelerate

  • Oct 5, 2008

CPI inflation measured on a twelve month basis has probably peaked. Looking ahead, inflation should cool off in the first half of 2009 (+3%). Here’s why....