Tariff Related Inflation Is Key Unknown, Rosenberg Says

Labor Market Analysis - Initial market reaction to slightly higher than expected unemployment rate was quickly reassessed [1] - Labor force participation rate increase mitigates concerns about the unemployment rate [2] - November payroll number of 64,000 was close to expectations, and another payroll report before the January meeting will further diminish the importance of these figures [2] Consumer Spending and Earnings - Retail sales control group number was strong, indicating healthy consumer spending [3] - Average hourly earnings, while slightly weaker month-over-month, still show a 35% year-over-year increase, suggesting continued wage growth [3] - Real incomes and the wealth effect are supporting consumption, driving market movement [4] Monetary Policy and Bond Market - Potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, possibly starting in March, combined with fiscal stimulus, could lead to a sell-off at the long end of the yield curve [4] - Bond market signals that while the Fed controls the short end, the long end reacts to better growth, sticky inflation, and high capital demand, pushing up the term premium [5] - Average hourly earnings growth of 35% year-over-year is the slowest pace since May 2021, influencing CPI expectations [6] Inflation and Tariffs - Inflation data, particularly CPI, is crucial for assessing the Federal Reserve's policy pivot [6][7] - Tariff-related components are seen as drivers of underlying inflation stickiness, with the key question being whether this is a one-off event or an ongoing inflationary process [8] - There is a consensus that tariff inflation should be a one-off event, with wages being a more critical factor in the process of inflation [9] - Wage growth, while still present, is also showing signs of slowing down [9]