CPI Inflation

Misleading CPI, Misleading Business Surveys, Reliable Claims

Dec 18, 2025 2 min read

Now that the government shutdown is over, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is releasing economic indicators again. However, the quality of the latest releases is an issue. Today's lower-than-expected November CPI inflation report boosted stock and bond prices after its release. But the gains faded as economists started to question the CPI numbers. Indeed, the release included a warning that the government shutdown might have distorted the

Ed Yardeni

ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: December 15–19

Dec 14, 2025 3 min read

This week is loaded with long-delayed government data releases, including on employment and inflation, which will provide a reality check on the economy's performance in the final weeks of 2025. This week's earnings reports from FedEx, General Mills, Carnival, and Jabil could also be illuminating. Last week's Federal Open Market Committee event produced a third rate cut this year, three dissenting votes, and the

William Pesek
Ed Yardeni

DEEP DIVE: Where Is the Neutral Interest Rate?

Sep 30, 2025 3 min read paid

In his post-FOMC press conference on September 17, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that Fed policy remains tight notwithstanding the latest rate cut: “What we can say is this, that over the course of this year we've kept our policy at a restrictive level—and people have different views—but a clearly restrictive level, I would say.” In other words, monetary policy remains tight. How does he know

Ed Yardeni

Postpartum Impressions

Sep 18, 2025 3 min read

Please see Dr Ed's op-ed in today's Financial Times titled "Why it might be the time to repeal the Fed’s dual mandate: Should 3% be the US central bank's new inflation target?" As expected by everyone, the FOMC delivered a 25bps cut in the federal funds rate (FFR) yesterday. There was only one dissenter among the FOMC's voting members.

Ed Yardeni

25 Or 50, To Be Or Not To Be?

Sep 11, 2025 3 min read members

Following yesterday's cooler-than-expected PPI and today's as-expected CPI, expectations are that the FOMC will cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points on September 17, with no dissenting votes among voting members. Following today's jump in last week's initial unemployment claims, meeting participants might consider a 50-basis-point cut, but we doubt that they will opt for that, as the majority would

Ed Yardeni

ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: September 8 - 12

Sep 7, 2025 3 min read

On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will publish its preliminary benchmark revision for March 2025 employment data. This coincides with the release of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data for Q1-2025. The preliminary revision will estimate how much the monthly payroll report overstated (or understated) actual job growth between April 2024 and March 2025. The final benchmark revision will be

Ed Yardeni
William Pesek

Bond Vigilantes May Be Lurking On Easying Path

Aug 12, 2025 3 min read paid

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq jumped to new record highs following the release of July's CPI report today. The headline inflation rate held steady at 2.7%, while the core rate warmed a bit to 3.1%. Stock investors concluded that the Fed is even more likely to ease in September. Indeed, the CME FedWatch tool now shows that the odds of that happening are 94.

Ed Yardeni

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