Looking closer at the numbers, the Commerce Department reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% during the month of August, but fell short of the expectations set forth by polled economists who forecasted a gain of 0.3%. The prevailing sentiment in the capital markets thus far is that the Federal Reserve is expected to raise the federal funds rate two more times before the end of 2018–whether or not the latest inflation numbers are enough to give pause to that notion remains to be seen.
Source: tradingeconomics.com
Still, some market experts are looking at the latest inflation numbers as a temporary drop that could resume as the bull market continues to extend itself through 2018 and into 2019.
“Inflation has been showing signs of heating up, boosted by the strength of the economy and increasingly tight labor market conditions. The pace of price increases may have moderated in August, but that is likely to only be a temporary reprieve,” said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors.
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