The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept the fed funds target rate unchanged this week, in a range of 0.0%-0.25%, but announced plans to accelerate the pace of their tapering process. The Fed will reduce the magnitude of their monthly asset purchases by $30 billion in January, doubling the pace of the monthly reduction in asset purchases that began in November
Consumer price inflation remained elevated in November, in line with expectations. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was up 6.8% year-over-year in November, versus up 6.2% year-over-year in October. Core CPI (CPI less food and energy) was up 4.9% year-over-year in November, versus up 4.6% in October.
Inflation readings continue to run hot, but market-based inflation expectations remain relatively contained and we believe inflation may be at or near a peak. We expect supply chain bottlenecks will continue to put upward pressure on prices over the near-term but should improve next year.
