U.S. Consumer Prices Rebound: Implications for Interest Rates

In July, U.S. consumer prices rose by 0.2%, aligning with expectations and indicating easing inflation. The Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates next month. The year-on-year CPI increased by 2.9%, down from 3.0% in June. Economists note that further rate cuts depend on significant labor market changes.

U.S. consumer prices saw a modest rebound in July, climbing 0.2% after a 0.1% decline in June, according to data from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. This aligns with expectations and suggests that inflation pressures are subsiding.

While the annual CPI increased by 2.9% over the past 12 months, down from 3.0% the previous month, the trend is consistent with easing inflation. This sets the stage for the Federal Reserve to potentially cut interest rates during its policy meeting next month.

Economic forecasts remain divided, with the probability of a rate cut varying between 25 basis points and half a percentage point. This division is largely due to a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.3%, driven more by an increase in labor supply than by layoffs.

(With inputs from agencies.)