Inflation 'Good Enough' But Fed Stays Put: Bilello Warns Against Political 'Price Fixing' Of Money - SPDR S&P 500 (ARCA:SPY)

Core Insights - December's inflation report indicated that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.7% year-over-year, remaining unchanged from the previous month, which markets viewed as "good enough" but too high for an immediate Federal Reserve rate cut [1] - The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates at its January 28 meeting, with a 97.2% likelihood of no changes according to CME Group's FedWatch tool [4] Inflation Trends - Core services inflation, excluding housing, known as "super core," softened to 2.76% from previous highs, but the monthly rate is still considered "a bit too hot" [1] - Eric Teal, Chief Investment Officer for Comerica Wealth Management, anticipates inflation will remain between 2.2% and 2.7% [2] Federal Reserve's Position - The Federal Reserve is likely to pause rate adjustments this month, with potential for a cut by April as economic risks shift towards a weakening labor market [2] - Charlie Bilello, Chief Market Strategist at Creative Planning, defends the Fed's decision to keep rates unchanged, emphasizing that rates should be determined by the free market rather than political pressure [3] Political Pressure and Market Dynamics - Bilello warns against political interference in setting interest rates, labeling it as "price fixing," which can lead to misallocated capital and economic instability [4] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) both closed lower, reflecting market reactions to the Fed's stance and inflation data [5]