Research.LeutholdGroup

February’s “Coronavirus Free” CPI data came in a tick hotter than expected. The massive downdraft in risk assets will be extraordinarily deflationary and we question whether the Fed can ride to the rescue once again.

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Where inflation goes next will be primarily determined by the probability of a recession.

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Headline and Core CPIs both post slower than expected gains in their month-over-month figures. The Fed’s laissez-faire attitude for 2020 seems appropriate for now. Interesting movements in commodity indexes may signal future upward price pressure.

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Wednesday's report contained no datapoints that might sway Fed policy. After three cuts in 2019 and a restart of quantitative easing, a recession that felt almost imminent at the beginning of the year seems to have been avoided.

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 The CPI numbers are largely in line with consensus. Where inflation goes next will be primarily determined by the probability of a recession. A near-neutral inflation scorecard is consistent with our slowdown but no recession view.

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The Core CPI is in line with consensus. The recent string of weak economic numbers has increased the odds of an imminent recession. A currency pact with China would serve to cap the upside in the dollar and may even help weaken it, providing support to inflation.

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The Core CPI registered its highest YOY increase of the past year. However, a recent NY Fed survey and other inflation forecasts seems to point to softening expectations. During Fed easing regimes, the CPI has been a good indicator of how aggressive the Fed needs to be. The next few months will be critical in assessing our economic situation.

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The Core CPI is slightly ahead of consensus. Recent depreciation in the Chinese Yuan is disinflationary. Given the seasonal tendency for better economic numbers in the second half of the year, inflation would likely rise moderately along with the economy once we turn the corner.

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The headline CPI numbers are in line while Core CPI is slightly ahead of consensus. Higher tariffs are not showing through import prices yet. Global slowdown underpins recent inflation path.

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The latest batch of softer than expected inflation figures gives the Fed more cover for a rate cut. Consumer inflation expectations are now the lowest in two years. Housing price increases remain critical to overall inflation.

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The latest CPI numbers are slightly lower than market expectations. Oil prices need to be watched closely as further oil weakness would likely drag down inflation expectations too. Concerns about new tariffs causing higher inflation are misplaced.

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The latest CPI numbers are largely in line with market expectations. The recent rebound in oil prices certainly helped the recovery in inflation expectations. Recent U.S. economic numbers have been decent overall and the latest uptick in the U.S. ISM index also offers support for inflation.

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The latest CPI numbers were slight misses and at the bottom end of their contemporary ranges. The recent rally of risk assets might be the only tail wind we can find for future inflation. The stark difference in durable and non-durable goods inflation is an excellent study in globalization.

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The latest CPI numbers are largely in line with market expectations. The Fed pause and other central bank easing moves are positive for risk markets. Watch cyclicals/defensive relative performance and ISM for near term direction.

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The latest CPI numbers matched market expectations. Lower oil and stock prices are disinflationary. China will lead the U.S. in inflation and currencies.

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Lower oil prices are dragging down the headline number. Markets are urging the Fed to take a pause in hiking. Core inflation remains in a healthy, tight range. Wealth effect concerns may drag on future price increases.

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The latest CPI numbers matched market expectations. Lower oil and a strong dollar are disinflationary. Cooling trend in the housing market is worth close monitoring. Global inflation surprises provide supportive backdrop.

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The latest CPI numbers missed market expectations. The problem is not with the actual CPI numbers, but merely the fact that market expectations are still a tad too high. More disconcerting is the cool trend in housing inflation.

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 Both Headline and Core CPI figures came in below expectations and backed off their contemporary highs. The overall inflation picture is little changed and the market is still pricing in two more 2018 rate hikes. Inflation in Goods is starting to catch up to Services.

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The year-over-year headline number was in line with market expectations. Inflation has taken a back seat to trade war and the market seems complacent about the potential impact of trade war. Trump is right to talk down the dollar as a stronger dollar is disinflationary.

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The year-over-year headline number was in line with market expectations but the month-over-month increase missed market consensus (0.1% vs. 0.2% expected). All else being equal, there is a good chance CPI might have peaked for 2018. A stronger dollar is disinflationary while the short term impact of tariffs is higher import prices.

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Headline and Core CPI figures hit estimates right on the nose in May, continuing the trend of modest but not outrageous price increases. Energy prices have boosted headline CPI while core CPI continues to be driven by services. With both of the Fed’s mandates pretty much accomplished, appreciate this rare window of time.

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We have seen a string of in-line/slightly subpar inflation numbers (including wages) both here in the US and overseas. Two countervailing market forces are at work too: a resurgent dollar and higher oil/commodities prices. Financial conditions would tighten quite a bit if both the dollar and the real yields are up significantly.

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Despite the rare decline in the monthly reading, overall inflation trends are positive and in-line with expectations. A break-out on the upside has not happened yet. Inflation break-even rates are also well within the recent range. The overall picture for inflation is positive but uncertainties are higher.

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The latest headline and core numbers are in-line with expectations. The breakeven rate retreated from the resistance level but the yield curve flattened again. Despite the overall mixed bag of macro data, there are more positive signs for inflation.We have been recommending patience when it comes to inflation because overall inflation trend is still pretty well contained.

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The headline and Core CPI numbers for January both came in hotter than expected. Despite the resurrected interest and concerns about inflation we still haven’t caught inflation fever. Because of the narrative (correct or not) look for increased volatility surrounding inflation announcements.

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The latest Core CPI number beat expectations but the yield curve flattened. The market shows more conviction about the Fed’s rate hikes than longer term inflation. We recommend patience and we don’t believe missing out on the first few months of higher inflation will cost us dearly.

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The latest Core CPI number disappointed again. The divergence between inflation break-evens and the yield curve is puzzling. Given the lack of inflationary pressure and the Fed’s projected rate path, it would not surprise us to see a flatter curve without the help of fiscal stimulus in the next few months.

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The latest CPI numbers are in-line with expectations. The divergence between inflation break-evens and the yield curve is worth close monitoring. Given that the global recovery is still intact, we don’t think the current inflation picture justifies the flatness of the yield curve.

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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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