A debate about the precise timing of a Fed rate cut has continued to dominate financial market sentiment in recent days. A nod from the Fed acknowledging progress in fighting inflation, coupled with weaker-than-expected CPI data, has, in particular, kept hopes of a soft landing for the US economy alive. In our charts this week we focus on:

·       US inflation

·       The UK economy

·       Consensus growth forecasts

·       The energy transition and climate change

·       China’s trade

·       The US dollar and global trade