Japan January Core CPI Rise Shrinks as Hotel, Insurance Upward Base Effects Wane
— Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 5th Straight Y/Y Gains on Energy — Utilities Push Up Overall Energy Costs; Durable Goods Prices Slide By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Japan posted the fifth straight year-on-year rise in January but the pace of increase decelerated sharply as the 2021 base effects of […]
Future of US Inflation Depends on Shelter Costs Flywheel
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Last month’s strong rate of increase in consumer prices reported Wednesday was the same, and for some major categories less, than in the previous month, suggesting that mathematical base effects will force indicated inflation to decelerate later this year. Most significantly, shelter costs, that contribute a third of all […]
Japan January Producer Price Y/Y Rise Slows on Easing Energy, Commodities
–Japan Producer Prices Rebound M/M After Being Flat in December By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan continued rising from year-earlier levels in January amid lingering supply bottlenecks but the pace of increase decelerated further after hitting an over four-decade high in November in light of what appears to be a temporary easing […]
Updated Preview: Japan Q4 GDP Rebound Seen on Easing Supply Bottlenecks, Covid Lull
–Updates with latest consumption data in paras 6-7, government measures in para 17, ESP Forecast in paras 18-19, Watchers’ survey at bottom — Consumption, Capex, Net Export Gains Behind Expected Solid Q4 Growth — Q1 GDP Face Downside Risks As Omicron-Led Covid Spike Hurts Sentiment By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for […]
ECB Sounds More Hawkish Note But Leaves Policy Unchanged
— President Christine Lagarde Acknowledges that Inflation is More Likely to Overshoot Target (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank “will not be complacent” about record-high eurozone inflation, a more hawkish stance from ECB President and long-term dove Christine Lagarde Thursday. “Compared to December, inflation risks are tilted to the upside, particularly in the near term,” […]
Bank of England Lifts Rates; Sends Hawkish Signals
— Decision was a “close call,” says governor, as four members argue for a steeper increase LONDON (MaceNews) – The Bank of England lifted interest rates for the second straight meeting — the first consecutive hikes since 2004 —but surprised the markets with a decidedly hawkish outlook, according to minutes of the February Monetary Policy Committee […]
KC Fed’s George: FOMC Needs to Move ‘Deliberately’ To Raise Federal Funds Rate
Funds Rate ‘Far Away’ From ‘Normal’ Monetary Policy ‘Out of Sync’ With Economic Outlook By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George said Monday that the Fed needs to move “deliberately” to withdraw the unprecedented monetary stimulus adopted to counter the Covid lockdown-induced recession. George, who is voting this […]
<strong><br>FOMC Tees Up March Rate Hike Now That U.S. At ‘Maximum Employment’</strong>
– Powell Sees ‘Substantial’ Balance Sheet Shrinkage After Rate Hikes Begin – Powell Says ‘Couple’ More Discussions Needed on Balance Sheet Reduction Strategy – Powell Implies Rate Hikes May be More Aggressive Given High Inflation, Tight Labor By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve took another giant step toward removing some monetary accommodation […]
FOMC Says Expects to ‘Soon Be Appropriate’ to Change Target Rate for Fed Funds
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the Federal Open Market Committee’s statement Wednesday of its policy stance, accompanied by a reaffirmation of its August 2020 statement that the Fed’s main tool remains changes in the federal funds rate while asset purchases diminish: Indicators of economic activity and employment have continued to strengthen. The sectors most […]
Bank of Canada Keeps Record-Low Rate But Ends Forward Guidance on Easing
— BOC’s Macklem: Taking Deliberate Steps Toward Higher Interest Rates— BOC To Keep Govt Bonds on Its Balance Sheet Until It Starts Raising Rates— BOC Revises Up 2022 CPI Forecast To 4.2% From 3.4%; 2023 Unchanged at 2.3%— BOC Lowers 2022 GDP Forecast to 4.0% From 4.3%, 2023 To 3.5% Vs 3.7% By Max Sato […]