Inflation was back in the spotlight this week. So far, the moderation in price pressures without a material deterioration in economic growth has been remarkable. Another deceleration in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) during September is the latest sign that the easing trend remains in place. During September, the headline CPI rose 0.4%, a monthly change that was a bit softer than the 0.6% increase registered in August. Although the descent has been gradual and a bit bumpy, inflation pressures have cooled considerably over the past year. In September, the headline CPI was up 3.7% on a year-to-year basis, while the core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was up 4.1%. Both the headline and core measures are running significantly slower than the rapid annual pace registered in the summer of 2022. Furthermore, the core CPI has advanced at a 3.1% annualized rate over the past three months, which indicates a cooler pace of price changes.
That noted, inflation is still hovering well above the Federal Reserve's 2% inflation target. Recent volatility in energy prices serves as a reminder that the path back to 2% looks to be winding and filled with obstacles. According to the CPI, energy prices advanced just 1.5% during September. However, prices over the past three months were still up at an annualized rate of 33%. After rising for most of September, oil prices have since retreated, and the drop in retail gasoline prices since the end of the month should offer some relief to consumers in the near term. That noted, moving forward, energy looks like it will no longer be pulling down on inflation as it generally has so far this year. Slower moderation in food prices could be another factor in keeping inflation above the FOMC's goal. Food costs rose 0.2% in September for the third straight month and are now up 3.7% over the past year.
The slowdown in core inflation can be attributed to falling goods prices, which continued to trend in the right direction in September. Goods prices declined for the fourth straight month and are now essentially back to the levels seen a year ago. Apparel, used autos, motor vehicle parts and equipment and prices all fell during the month. Conversely, services inflation has yet to display the same downward movement. Core services prices rose 0.6% in September. The monthly gain was driven by a surprise uptick in owners' equivalent rent, which measures housing inflation and is the largest single component in the CPI. We expect the jump to reverse over the next couple of months given that the upturn is out of line with private sector measures of housing inflation. Core services excluding housing and travel moderated on the back of softer medical and transportation services costs.
All told, September's CPI was another step in the right direction and adds credence to our view that inflation will continue to ease slowly as supply-related pressures ease, shelter costs moderate and consumers become less willing to digest higher prices. Yet, the report also illustrates the many challenges ahead to return to the Fed's 2% inflation target. In addition to uncertainty about energy prices, the recent rate of decline in vehicle prices, which has been a drag on overall goods prices, is unlikely to be sustained given that used vehicle auction prices have been on the rise since July and the UAW strike which stands to put a dent in production. Recent declines in travel prices are also unlikely to endure, while medical services inflation looks set to rebound next month with the incorporation of the most recent health insurance source data.
What's more, beyond the CPI, underlying price pressures do not appear to be fully tamped down.The Producer Price Index (PPI) arrived on the hot side of consensus expectations and rose 0.5% during September. The monthly increase in factory gate prices equates to a 2.2% year-over-year gain, up from 2.0% in August. Furthermore, the share of small firms that are raising selling prices looks to be edging higher. According to the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, the net share of owners raising prices increased two percentage points to 29%, the highest since June 2023. Meanwhile, inflation and labor quality remained tied as the top two concerns of business owners in September. Although inflation concerns are down on an annual basis, the measure is still above its pre-pandemic trend. Inflation challenges, in addition to labor shortages, higher financing costs and reduced credit access, help explain why small business sentiment, which slipped to 90.8 in September, continues to hover around levels not experienced since 2012 in the aftermath of the Great Recession.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 06 November 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Nov 10, 2020
As of this writing, the outcome of the U.S. presidential election is undecided. Joe Biden, however, appears likely to become president based off of his growing lead in several key states.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 22 January 2021
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Jan 23, 2021
Housing starts jumped 5.8% during December. Single-family starts soared 12%, while multifamily starts dropped 13.6%.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 16 August 2024
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Aug 22, 2024
Inflation continues its gradual descent, and business optimism has trended higher amid cooler input price growth and steady consumer spending.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 24 January 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Jan 25, 2020
Fears of an escalating coronavirus outbreak reached the United States this week, as a Washington state man became the first confirmed domestic case and the international total reached more than 800.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 11 September 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Sep 14, 2020
In the holiday-shortened week, analysts’ attention remained on the progress of the labor market. Recent jobless claims data remain stubbornly high and point to a slowing jobs rebound.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 12 August 2022
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Aug 13, 2022
The FOMC has made it clear that it needs to see inflation slowing on a sustained basis before pivoting from its current stance. The data seems to be going in multiple directions all at once.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 16 August 2019
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Aug 17, 2019
Markets gyrated this week as the spread between the ten- and two-year Treasury\'s turned negative for the first time since 2007. Financial markets seem to expect that the sharp slowdown in growth overseas will soon spread to the United States.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 17 April 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Apr 18, 2020
Economic data from the early stages of the Great Shutdown have finally arrived, and they are as bad as feared. ‘Worst on record’ is about to become an all too common refrain in our commentary.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 22 May 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / May 25, 2020
The re-opening of the country is getting underway, with all 50 states starting to roll back restrictions.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 24 January 2025
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Jan 28, 2025
Initial jobless claims increased to a six-week high, rising to a seasonally adjusted level of 223K for the week ended January 18. The Southern California wildfires played a major role in the rise, increasing by 61K on a non-seasonally-adjusted basis.