With a tremendous amount of attention being paid to the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Report (Consumer Price Index), we set off as part of our research to find an easy explanation of the breakdown of the index.
As a reminder the CPI index is a measure of inflation, hence the increase rhetoric not only in the public domain, but here as well, as we have spoken about it multiple times via analysis.
Back to the analysis, we found tons of information about the make up of the aforementioned CPI index, and a 100 plus items that make it up, but oddly it took us some time to find the true easy breakdown in larger macro elements of the CPI index.
Great news, a new approved non-copyright use from a fantastic new research service called Pew Research has been discovered. With approval from their public relations folks, we are happy to finally show you this wonderful graph that breaks the CPI index down into very easy and visually friendly context.
We will be referring back to this graph frequently, as some of our future commentary will be about this CPI index, and what it may look like in the future and what it means from a Federal Reserve/FOMC standpoint.
Have a Great “CPI Index Simplified” Day!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP
Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
$treet-¢ents 
Capital Market thoughts, looking forward not back … FOMC chaired by Jerome Powell gave, now taking away, for the moment
We don’t want to get too heavy and pound you with market thoughts, we know you’re getting enough of that from the “Market in Turmoil” like headlines, but we did want to give some explanations and let you know we are watching carefully as we have been on notice since December for a possible slowdown.
Look forward, not back
Economic reports such as today’s CPI (consumer price index) report is very much rearview looking, as such it’s sometime easy to forget that what’s most important is looking forward to what is going to happen next rather than backwards to what has happened. Yes it is much harder, and you do not know exactly what is going to happen … but you sure do not drive a vehicle looking continually in the rear view mirror – some humor on a dry subject… stay with me!
This is even more evident at the recent quick rise in interest rates, creating the headwinds to bonds. As noted here and again here in our posts (the second with even a special video) it’s highly likely and the probability is most that the headwinds for our fixed income investments are behind us. Once again looking forward, a slow down usually garners lower interest rates, exactly opposite to our slightly current and mostly rearview looking higher rates.
FOMC chaired by Powell gave and now takes
Over the past 18 months to two years the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) headed by Jerome Powell have taken very aggressive measures to stimulate the economy. Much of a stimulation, once the book is written may have over stimulated not only the economy but various asset prices. Their goal at this time is to slow inflation thereby doing a complete turnaround from their prior stance and taking away stimulus. This most likely will continue until they see evidence of slower inflation or lower employment.
Higher rates are their main instrument of choice:
The FOMC waits for the reports such as the CPI to confirm their decisions, making for a lag in decision making and possibly longer decision-making, but they will eventually get there….
Finally, capital markets are certainly looking forward hence the sluggishness as they begin to price in a slowdown in full force. Eventually it’s very likely the FOMC will begin to see these clues as well!
Have a Great “Forward Looking” Day!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP
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Posted in Debt - Debt Management, Economy, FOMC, Interest Rates, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments
Tagged BLS, CPI, FOMC, Interest Rates, Jerome Powell, Recession