The upside surprises to January US inflation need to be viewed in the context of considerable seasonal noise. That said, there is growing evidence globally that a phase of sharply slowing goods price inflation is ending. And details of this week’s reports suggest that part of the gap that lowered core PCE inflation to a 2%ar will not persist. On the growth front, it is reasonable to see January as a month in which a strong run of US consumer spending gains is ending. There is no sign as yet that the persistent weakness in spending in Europe and Japan is fading.

Speakers:

Bruce Kasman

Joseph Lupton

This podcast was recorded on 16 February 2024.

This communication is provided for information purposes only. Institutional clients please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2024 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party. It is permissible to use J.P. Morgan Data for internal business purposes only in an AI system or model that protects the confidentiality of J.P. Morgan Data so as to prevent any and all access to or use of such J.P. Morgan Data by any third-party.