It is clearer that tariffs will drive a new global inflation surge

Kia ora,

Welcome to Tuesday’s Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.

I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.

And today we lead with news of more signaled tariffs on imports into the US, specifically on metals. A new inflation surge seems inevitable, as does less trade and low growth - in other words we need to prepare for a new bout of stagflation.

But first, American consumer inflation expectations for the year ahead remained at 3% for a third consecutive month in January, according to the NY Fed national survey. This is far more sanguine than the University of Michigan survey we noted yesterday which reported a 4.3% year ahead level. The NY Fed survey noted that households now expect to pull back their spending in the year ahead, however.

The Musk takeover of US spending priorities is leaving many losers, including US farmers. 

In Canada, a survey by their central bank of about 30 significant financial "market participants" at the end of 2024 showed that those polled expect the Canadian 3% current policy interest rate still has another -50 bps of cuts to come, but that it will level out at 2.5% from mid-year for the next long period. This survey also showed an expectation of a +1.8% or +1.9% economic growth rate over the next two years, although the largest risk to that is from policy uncertainty in the US.

And staying in Canada, falling residential values are leaving some very tough positions for buyers who bought off the plan, and now find the contract price now far exceeds what a bank would value their purchase for a mortgage.

In India, the one-two public policy push to "go for growth" with tax cuts and a lower policy interest rate, isn't getting plaudits from financial markets. They have driven the Indian currency to a record low against the USD, although it has come off that in the past few hours. (But of course some of that is due to the overall strength of the USD.)

In the face of new US tariff threats, some targeted metals prices have risen. Essentially they are pricing in the higher prices American buyers will have to pay. Aluminium is at a two year high and running at long term high levels, steel comes in may varieties, but rebar steel hasn't moved much because that has China-focused demand. Other commodity-metals are flat, but specialty metal prices are rising. And copper is back near its all-time highs suddenly at just over US$10,000/tonne (NZ$17,750). These shifts higher will underpin global inflationary impulses that no-one can avoid.

And we should probably note that the new aggressive new US Gaza policies probably mean there will be no end to the risks of using the Suez Canal, extending its inflationary impact.

The UST 10yr yield is at 4.49%, down -1 bp from yesterday at this time.

The price of gold will start today at just under US$2900/oz and up +US$40 from yesterday. This will be a new record closing if it holds this level.

Oil prices are up +US$1.50 at just under US$72.50/bbl in the US and the international Brent price is now at US$76/bbl and back to week-ago levels.

The Kiwi dollar is now at 56.5 USc and down -10 bps from this time yesterday.  Against the Aussie we are down -20 bps at 90 AUc. Against the euro we are unchanged at just under 54.8 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today just on 66.8, down -10 bps from yesterday at this time.

The bitcoin price starts today at US$97,281 and up +0.7% slip from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been modest at +/- 1.8%.

You can find links to the articles mentioned today in our show notes.

You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.

Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.