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Market volatility continued this week as investors digested softer economic data. The December Producer Price Index (PPI) confirmed a declining inflation trend, and weak retail sales provided evidence of slower consumer spending and economic growth. Producer prices fell 0.5% month-over-month in December and increased 6.2% year-over-year, decelerating from November’s 7.3% year-over-year increase. The Core Producer Price Index (PPI Ex-Food and Energy) rose just 0.1% for the month and 5.5% year-over-year in December, down from 6.2% year-over-year growth last month. Energy disinflation was the most significant factor in December’s lower numbers, while food prices came down marginally as well. Retail sales dropped 1.1% in December after a downward revision to a 1% decline in November. Retail sales rose 6% year-over-year in December, unchanged from November’s year-over-year gain. Weakness was widespread among core retail and food service sectors. Non-store retailers, motor vehicles, and gasoline all softened as well. Softer inflation and growth data should provide support for a downshift in the magnitude and pace of Fed rate hikes.

Market participants focused on December’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report this week. Headline CPI fell 0.1% in December versus the +0.1% reading in November. Inflation rose 6.5% year-on-year, down from 7.1% in November. Core CPI edged up slightly to 0.3% in December, and to 5.7% on a year-on-year basis, from 6.0% in November. A key factor driving down inflationary pressure this month was a 4.5% drop in energy prices, led by falling gasoline prices. Core goods prices fell 0.3% for the month and in particular, used cars saw a substantial drop along with new-car prices which contracted for the first time in almost two years. Core services prices were up 0.5% for the month driven by increases in shelter and medical-care services. Overall, this was a constructive report on inflation and gives the Federal Reserve room to reduce the pace and magnitude of future federal funds rate hikes. The next meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will be on February 1st.