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Inflation data points to firming economy

World Business
Inflation showed signs of stabilising in May after a long decline, a potential comfort to Federal Reserve policymakers who want to avoid any chance of a debilitating bout of deflation.

WASHINGTON — Inflation showed signs of stabilising in May after a long decline, a potential comfort to Federal Reserve policymakers who want to avoid any chance of a debilitating bout of deflation. Reuters

The Labour Department said on Tuesday the consumer price index edged 0,1% higher last month after two straight months of declines while the so-called core index, which excludes food and energy costs, rose 0,2%, just above the pace clocked in April.

The core index, which the US central bank monitors closely because it is less volatile and provides a better sense of price trends, was up 1,7% in the 12 months through May.

The increase matched the gain in April and suggested that a worrisome downward trend in core inflation, which began a year ago, might be coming to an end as consumer demand strengthens.

That would be a relief to Fed officials who worry that a big drop in inflation could lead to a spiral of falling prices and wages. Removing this risk could make the Fed more comfortable with eventually paring back its bond-buying stimulus.

“Inflation pressures remain very subdued, but downside momentum is fading,“ said Eric Green, an interest rate strategist at TD Securities in New York.

The central bank began a two-day meeting on Tuesday and is expected to leave a bond-buying stimulus programme unchanged.

While May’s reading for 12-month core inflation remains below the Fed’s 2% inflation target, a stabilisation could make the Fed more comfortable paring back its economic stimulus programmes as soon as this fall.

The overall CPI was up 1,4% from a year-ago in May, up 3⁄10 of a percentage point from the prior month.

“The economy has been performing decently,” said Carl Riccadonna, an economist at Deutsche Bank in New York. “I don’t think the Fed is concerned” with weak inflation data.

In May, the core price index rose with support from a 0,2% increase in clothing prices and a strong 0.3 percent increase in shelter costs. Yields rose a bit on US government debt and US stock prices were higher at midday.

The Fed is widely seen to be moving closer to cutting back on its extraordinary support for the US economy, which has shown signs of resilience despite tax hikes and government spending cuts this year. It has been buying $85 billion in bonds each month to lower borrowing costs and spur hiring.