Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article indicates that the slight rise in inflation in August strengthens the case for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates next week, although the pace is expected to be cautious [1][3][5] - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.9% year-on-year in August, marking the highest increase since February, with a month-on-month increase of 0.4%, both slightly above expectations [1][3] - The core CPI, excluding food and energy, increased by 3.1% year-on-year and 0.3% month-on-month, remaining stable and in line with expectations [1][5] Group 2 - The probability of a 25 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September is 92.7%, while the probability of a 50 basis point cut is 7.3% [3] - Analysts suggest that the August inflation data supports a 25 basis point cut but does not provide justification for a larger cut [3][5] - The core inflation rate remains stable at 3.1% year-on-year and 0.3% month-on-month, despite rising core commodity prices [5][6] Group 3 - The labor market shows signs of weakness, with initial jobless claims rising to 263,000, the highest since June 2023, and non-farm payrolls adding only 22,000 jobs in August, significantly below expectations [6][8] - The unemployment rate increased to 4.3%, the highest level since November 2021, raising concerns for the Federal Reserve [6][8] - Some analysts believe the rise in jobless claims may reflect seasonal fluctuations rather than a significant decline in labor demand [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. job growth average over the past three months is only 35,000, leading to concerns about the Federal Reserve's credibility and potential for an "insurance rate cut" if the August non-farm data, to be released on September 5, shows further weakness [1] Group 1 - The Federal Reserve decision-makers, particularly those worried about core PCE deviating from the 2% target, may support a rate cut if the upcoming employment data is weak [1] - The core PCE is expected to exceed the target by 100 basis points, making a rate cut in September a challenging decision under any circumstances [1] - There is uncertainty regarding whether the effects of tariffs will gradually become apparent [1]

Group 1 - Goldman Sachs' economic outlook report predicts that by the end of this year, American consumers will feel the full impact of tariff policies, leading to significant political backlash from President Trump [2] - The effective tariff rate has surged from 3% at the beginning of the year to 18%, indicating a rapid acceleration in price transmission mechanisms as companies deplete their buffer inventories [2] - Economists warn that the current tariff increases are unprecedented since World War II, creating substantial uncertainty regarding cost transmission [2][3] Group 2 - The inflation transmission is not limited to goods but has also affected service sector input prices, with core service prices showing unexpected strength [3] - The "sticky price CPI" indicator compiled by the Cleveland Fed has reached an annualized growth rate of 3.8%, the highest since May 2024, significantly outpacing the more volatile food and energy prices [3] - Current tariff policies could potentially reduce U.S. GDP by 1% and increase inflation by 1% to 1.5%, with core CPI projected to reach 3.5% by year-end [3] Group 3 - The Federal Reserve faces dual pressures from rising inflation expectations and weak labor market signals, with market expectations leaning towards maintaining a wait-and-see approach until 2025 [4] - Retailers are adjusting pricing strategies in response to rising costs, and some companies are considering relocating production lines to avoid tariff risks [5] - The ongoing economic debate reflects a broader examination of the resilience of the U.S. economy amid global value chain restructuring and cost reallocation [5]

Group 1 - The downward revision of non-farm payroll data for May and June has shifted the market's narrative regarding the U.S. economy, with interest rate markets now viewing a rate cut in September as nearly certain [1] - Morgan Stanley's chief global economist, Seth Carpenter, indicates that while the market anticipates a rate cut, many variables remain to be observed, particularly upcoming economic data [1] - The upcoming CPI data is crucial, especially in understanding how tariffs influence inflation, with historical data suggesting a lag of 3 to 5 months for the full impact of tariffs to manifest [1][2] Group 2 - Despite signs of a weakening labor market, inflationary pressures are building, which is a key argument against rate cuts [2] - The report highlights that tariffs are a significant driver of inflation, with the effects showing a clear lag; the effective tariff rate in June was reported at 8.9%, significantly lower than the announced rate of over 15% [2] - Companies, particularly in the automotive sector, are delaying price increases through inventory management, which further postpones the visible impact of inflation [2] Group 3 - The Federal Reserve's decision in September will require balancing between slowing employment and rising inflation, with trade agreement uncertainties complicating the situation [3] - The upcoming CPI report is expected to show a rise in core CPI from 0.23% to 0.32% year-on-year, driven by tariff-affected core goods [3] - Additional economic data, including another employment report and CPI report, will be released before the September FOMC meeting, making the decision environment more complex [3]

Group 1 - The recent consumer price index (CPI) data for June shows a complex picture influenced by tariffs, with core CPI rising only 0.2% month-over-month, slightly below market expectations [1] - Core goods prices have seen a significant increase for the first time since February, particularly in household items and clothing, indicating the impact of tariffs on consumer prices [2] - Financial institutions predict that the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index will outperform core CPI, with expected month-over-month growth between 0.29% and 0.34%, which may reduce the likelihood of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1][5] Group 2 - Core CPI year-over-year growth increased from 2.8% to 2.9%, while core goods prices rose by 0.2%, marking the strongest performance since February 2023 [1] - The trade-weighted effective tariff rate in the U.S. has risen to 14%-15%, significantly higher than the previous year's 2.5%, with an estimated 50% of tariff costs expected to be passed on to consumers [2] - The anticipated core PCE growth of 0.34% in June is driven by stock market rebounds and rising prices in investment-related services, reinforcing the Federal Reserve's current monetary policy stance [5]

Core Viewpoint - The inflation effects of Trump's tariffs are becoming evident, with the latest data showing an acceleration in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in June, indicating that tariff costs are being passed from businesses to consumers, potentially leading to stagflation in the U.S. economy [1][5][9] Economic Indicators - In June, the CPI rose by 2.7% year-on-year, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from May, and a month-on-month rise of 0.3%, up by 0.2 percentage points from the previous month [1][6] - The "super core inflation," which excludes food, energy, and housing, increased by 0.12% month-on-month in June, significantly higher than the previous two months' increases of 0.01% and 0.07% [1][6] Tariff Impact - The tariffs introduced on April 2 have begun to affect prices, particularly in sectors like furniture and toys, which are sensitive to tariff changes [5][6] - Analysts suggest that the impact of tariffs on inflation was initially muted due to inventory buffers, but as these buffers deplete, the inflationary effects will become more pronounced [6][9] Consumer and Business Costs - Goldman Sachs estimates that businesses will pass approximately 70% of the tariff costs onto consumers, with the remaining 30% absorbed by businesses and foreign exporters [7] - The annual inflation expectations among the public have risen to 4.9%, with long-term expectations reaching 3.9%, the highest since 1993 [8] Economic Growth Projections - The U.S. GDP growth is expected to slow significantly, with various institutions revising their forecasts downwards for 2025, indicating a potential growth rate of 1.3% to 1.7% [9][10] - The Federal Reserve may face constraints on its ability to lower interest rates due to rising inflation pressures, with the next potential rate cut not expected until September [9][10]

Core Insights - The overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) for June showed a moderate increase, with a month-over-month rise of 0.3% and a year-over-year increase of 2.7%, marking a four-month high [1][4] - Core CPI rose by 0.23% month-over-month and 2.9% year-over-year, slightly below expectations [1][4] Inflation Dynamics - The automotive and travel sectors continue to exhibit weakness, contributing to a drag on inflation, while import prices are showing significant upward pressure attributed to tariffs [4][5] - Various imported goods, including home appliances and sports equipment, have seen price increases approaching or exceeding an annualized rate of 10% over the past three months [5] - The report indicates that as companies deplete their pre-stocked inventories and refrain from further profit margin compression, tariff-related price pressures are expected to intensify in the coming months [5] Sector Performance - Healthcare CPI increased by 0.5% in June, and clothing prices rose by 0.4%, reversing declines from May [5] - The travel industry remains weak, with accommodation prices falling short of expectations and airfares rising less than predicted based on high-frequency travel booking data [8] Federal Reserve Outlook - The Federal Reserve is likely to maintain a cautious stance due to the structural divergence in inflation dynamics, with potential upward risks remaining [9] - The forecast for the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for June is a month-over-month increase of 0.28%, with a year-over-year rise of 2.7% [9]

Core Viewpoint - The transmission effect of tariffs is currently moderate due to pre-tariff inventory accumulation and cost absorption by profits, but this effect is expected to become more pronounced as inventories decrease [1] Group 1 - Analyst Katherine Judge from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce indicates that the impact of tariff increases is still mild at present [1] - Companies have accumulated inventory before the implementation of tariffs, which has mitigated the immediate effects [1] - As inventory levels decline, the anticipated transmission effects of tariffs are expected to manifest, potentially leading the Federal Reserve to maintain its current stance [1]

Core Insights - The U.S. inflation is showing signs of rising again after months of stagnation, driven by increasing import costs and the upcoming release of key economic data, including the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) and retail sales report [1][5] - Analysts expect the June core CPI to rise by 0.3% month-over-month, marking the largest increase in five months, with a year-over-year increase projected at 2.9%, the first rebound since January [3][4] - The impact of tariffs on domestic prices is a critical concern, as the market seeks to understand how these policies are affecting inflation [3][5] Inflation and Pricing Dynamics - The core CPI's expected increase reflects potential tariff transmission effects, particularly in goods like appliances and furniture, while service prices remain weak [3][4] - The current labor market shows signs of cooling, with slower wage growth making consumers more sensitive to price changes, complicating retailers' decisions on passing costs to consumers [4][5] - The interplay between consumer resilience and pricing pressure is crucial for the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions, especially with the next policy meeting approaching [4][5] Retail Sales and Economic Growth - Following the CPI data, the U.S. Commerce Department will release June retail sales data, which is expected to show a slight rebound after two months of decline [5] - Weak consumer spending momentum aligns with a cooling job market, and lackluster retail performance could support the narrative of a "soft landing" for the U.S. economy [5] - The upcoming CPI and retail sales data will provide a comprehensive view of the U.S. economy's current state, balancing rising inflation pressures against slowing growth [5]

Core Viewpoint - Federal Reserve Chairman Powell indicated that weaker transmission effects of tariffs could impact monetary policy [1] Group 1 - The potential impact of tariffs on monetary policy is highlighted, suggesting that if the transmission effects are weak, it may lead to adjustments in policy decisions [1]