经济数据引爆美联储宽松预期，连续降息箭在弦上？

Group 1: Economic Data and Federal Reserve Expectations - The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August increased by 0.4% month-on-month, with a year-on-year growth of 2.9% after seasonal adjustment, while core CPI rose by 0.3% month-on-month and 3.1% year-on-year [1] - Initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose by 27,000 to 263,000, the highest level since October 2021, exceeding both the previous value of 236,000 and the expected 235,000 [1] - The market has fully priced in three rate cuts by the Federal Reserve before the end of the year, indicating a strong expectation for monetary easing [1][7] Group 2: Inflation and Employment Trends - Inflation data shows that CPI and core CPI growth rates align with expectations, suggesting limited impact from tariffs on overall prices, while certain goods like new and used cars and housing still exhibit price stickiness [2][3] - Despite stable overall inflation, specific categories such as clothing and energy have shown price increases, indicating ongoing inflationary pressures [2] - The employment market is cooling, with non-farm payrolls only increasing by 22,000 in August and the unemployment rate rising to 4.3%, the highest in nearly four years [5][6] Group 3: Market Reactions and Future Outlook - Following the CPI and jobless claims data, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell below 4%, the dollar index declined, and U.S. stocks reached new highs, reflecting investor concerns over employment data [9] - The potential for a "stagflation-like" scenario exists if inflation rises unexpectedly alongside a deteriorating job market, which could limit the Federal Reserve's policy options [8] - The performance of financial markets post-rate cuts will depend heavily on the U.S. economy's ability to achieve a soft landing; otherwise, significant market adjustments may occur [9]