Monthly Market Update – February 2025
Inflation and Trade policy concerns Inflation remains in the headlines, though the data was not as bad as the headlines sounded. In January, consumer prices rose more than expected, with CPI increasing by 0.5% and core CPI by 0.4%(1). Despite worried headlines about the sharper than expected rise, the “January effect” of regular seasonal adjustments […]
Monthly Market Update – January 2025
Mixed signals The latest jobs reports show mixed signals of cooling and resilience. Job openings rose unexpectedly in November(1), driven by the volatile business services sector, while the quits rate declined, adding evidence pointing to potentially slower wage gains in the coming months. Average hourly earnings grew modestly, reinforcing the trend of easing wage pressures. […]
Monthly Market Update – December 2024
Steady inflation Inflation was steady in November, rising in line with economists’ expectations, but signaling mixed progress on disinflation. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3% from October, bringing the annual increase to 2.7%(1). Core inflation, which strips out the volatility of food and energy prices, continued its steady climb, rising 0.3% for the fourth […]
Monthly Market Update – November 2024
Inflation and jobs Inflation continued its slow and challenging decline in October, showing only modest changes from recent months(1). The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% from September and 2.6% over the past year, marking the first rise in the inflation rate since March(1). Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% for the […]
Monthly Market Update – October 2024
September CPI and US Jobs report September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report brought both relief and caution. The good news was that rent prices had finally started to cool off more quickly(1). However, persistent inflation in key services and stalled progress in core goods tempered the positive news(1). The headline CPI rose by 0.2%, with […]
Monthly Market Update – September 2024
The ongoing inflation battle US inflation unexpectedly picked up in August, largely due to rising housing and travel-related costs. Housing was the biggest driver, with rent disinflation remaining stubbornly slow. Housing costs increased by 0.5%(1), the most since the start of the year, undermining what could have been a more predictable inflation report. The core […]
Monthly Market Update – August 2024
Cooling inflation and job market It’s taken awhile, but the elusive sub-3% annual inflation(1) is now a reality, seemingly providing the Federal Reserve with enough justification to cut rates at its September meeting. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July increased by 0.2% from June and 2.9% from the previous year, marking the lowest annual […]
Monthly Market Update – June 2024
Inflation is finally easing Good news for consumers: the latest data showed inflation is finally easing, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showing a drop in prices for necessities and discretionary items(1). Headline CPI was unchanged in May, marking the tamest reading since mid-2022, while core CPI rose by 0.2%(1). Both measures signal a potential […]
Monthly Market Update – May 2024
Slowing economy and stubborn inflation As analysts assess the health of the economy, the latest jobs reports raise concerns about a potential slowdown. In April, nonfarm payrolls rose by the smallest amount in six months. The unexpected slowdown in job creation was underscored by a rise in the unemployment rate, which ticked up from 3.8% […]
Monthly Market Update – April 2024
Inflation continues The road to a normal inflationary environment looks longer than it did before. The March Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed that headline and core CPI both rose by 0.4% on a monthly basis, exceeding forecasts and marking the third month of 0.4% increase in core CPI(1). The increases in headline and core […]
