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Market Outlook: The CPI Report Shows a Decrease in Inflation, Boosting Investor Sentiment

inflation decrease

Market Outlook: The CPI Report Shows a Decrease in Inflation, Boosting Investor Sentiment

For the first time in two years, the U.S. consumer price index fell below 5%. Investors welcomed the news on the latest CPI report released by the Labor Department.

Since the pandemic, inflation has jumped to a record high, completing and slowing the economic cycle in the U.S. and the globe in general.

Taming inflation was a quest that the Federal Reserve did not hesitate to stay committed to. Today, the tightening policy is showing signs of progress despite fears of its long-term effects.

The U.S. Labor Department’s CPI reports show headline inflation posted a 4.9% year-over-year increase, beating the market explication of 5%. In March, inflation rose by 0.46%, and the report shows a 0.4% month-over-month increase.

Food prices jumped by 5.5% annually, and housing expenses are what keep inflation hot. Housing prices have jumped sharply since the COVID outbreak due to ongoing supply chain issues and the unstable European market.

Based on Jeffrey Roach, chief economist for LPL Financial’s email

“Shelter costs continue to be the largest contributor to inflation, illustrating the acute pain felt by renters in this country.”

Shelter costs account for about two-thirds of the consumer index prices, or approximately 60%.

Respectively speaking, the indexes for rent and equivalent rents jumped by 0.5% and 0.6% in the past two months, respectively. Renters still ask for more for their properties due to increasing energy and building costs. The steady increase in housing costs can have broader implications. It may contribute to inflationary pressures, as higher housing expenses can impact overall consumer spending and strain household budgets. This, in turn, could have consequences for overall economic growth and stability.

The optimistic news has just raised the market’s hopes for a key interest rate hike pause in June by more than 85%. Still, another CPI report will be released in June, just a week before the FED meeting.

A lot can happen between now and then, especially after the recent BRICS movements that are more likely to affect the U.S. dollar and its economy.

Moving to the stock market, the S&P 500 and technology stocks edged higher, and Dow futures were still mixed in today’s session. As of 13:54 a.m. ET, the S&P 500 benchmark was up by 0.33%, and the heavy tech composite Nasdaq jumped by 0.88%. The S&P 500 index reached 12 new 52-week highs and four new lows. On the other hand, the Nasdaq index achieved 50 new highs and 37 new lows. The Dow Jones futures declined by 0.13% to 33,508.20 basis points.

The stock market raised major concerns about its ability to recover and rebound to its pre-normal level. Since last year, the vast majority have lost at least 30% of their stock value and growth. Yet, in the past two months, the economic cycle has accelerated to some degree.

In summary, the recent CPI report has boosted market sentiment positively, fueling hopes of a potential pause in key interest rate hikes. However, uncertainties remain, and the market will closely monitor upcoming economic reports and external factors such as the movements in BRICS countries. As always, investors should exercise caution and stay informed about market developments to make well-informed investment decisions.

Written by Editor

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