Eurodollar University

There is a tendency to conflate the behavior of consumer prices with the condition of the economy. With the current mania over recent CPIs in full bloom, fears extend into the real economy. Is it really "too hot?" Recent data from the Federal Reserve itself actually helps separate the facts from the misperceptions. Eurodollar University's conversations w/Steve Van MetreBeige Book April 2024https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/BeigeBook_20240417.pdfhttps://www.eurodollar.university

The world is starting to get the idea that rate hikes are not all they're cracked up to be. Yet, we're forced to focus endlessly on the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies. Why? The answer is really simple. More importantly, what's really going on in the economy? That answer is also pretty simple, too.Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisJay Powell Jackson Hole August 2023 Inflation: Progress and the Path Aheadhttps://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20230825a.htmFOMC Transcript July 2014https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/FOMC20140730meeting.pdfBen Bernanke Jan 2009 The Crisis and the Policy Responsehttps://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20090113a.htmhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

The Fed is all over the place, flip-flopping sometimes within a matter of weeks. They're confident about inflation then they're not. What's the real reason for so much back and forth, the obvious insecurity? It's the story no one really knows and what actually ties the current day with the past Great Inflation. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisCSPAN William Proxmirehttps://www.c-span.org/video/?322377-1/political-career-senator-william-proxmirehttps://www.c-span.org/video/?39834-1/government-wastehttps://www.c-span.org/video/?c4704392/sen-william-proxmireHutchinson v Proxmirehttps://www.oyez.org/cases/1978/78-680Federal Reserve Memo Nov 6, 1973 & letter from Arthur Burns to Senator Proxmirehttps://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/historical/burns/Burns_19731106.pdfNYT Dec 2, 1975 Proxmire Would Curtail Bankshttps://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/02/archives/proxmire-would-curtail-banks.htmlFOMC Transcript July 1981https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/FOMC19810707meeting.pdfhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

EURODOLLAR UNIVERSITY'S SPRING SALE STILL GOING FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, DETAILS AT THE LINK BELOWhttps://www.eurodollar.university/sales-page-springUpdates from the US housing and energy sectors heavily rebuff the idea reflation. There is supposed to be resurgent demand when new data shows the opposite, including a shocking crash in one critical segment. Not only do they contradict reflation, these also expose the CPI. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisRent.com The Rent Report April 2024https://www.rent.com/research/average-rent-price-report/https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

EURODOLLAR UNIVERSITY'S SPRING SALE STILL GOING FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, DETAILS AT THE LINK BELOWhttps://www.eurodollar.university/sales-page-springUST yields are up somewhat sharply since early April, raising questions as to why that is. High on the public list of suspects is a government bond crisis for obvious Uncle Sam insanity reasons. Others point to possible reflation in higher yields. We do have a solid, historically validated answer for Treasuries, but it's written in German. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysishttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

EURODOLLAR UNIVERSITY'S SPRING SALE STILL GOING FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, DETAILS AT THE LINK BELOWhttps://www.eurodollar.university/sales-page-springHigher (slightly) interest rates and a couple rising commodities has brought back the reflation trade. For those to be valid, there would have to be widespread confirmation that a meaningful pickup in demand is brewing. Instead, there are huge holes including the most critical signal of them all. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisMining.com  Global copper smelters less active after China’s planned output cutshttps://www.mining.com/web/global-copper-smelters-less-active-after-chinas-planned-output-cuts/https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Is the Great Migration about to get worse? The answer starts in China where just the week the country already reported a sharp fall in consumer prices. CNY is down and so are government bond yields there. The Chinese also said the economy suffered a big drop in exports and then suffered a record low growth rate for lending. Banking woes, trade setbacks, further declines in growth and inflation expectations. The rest of the world is going to feel the effects.Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisS&P Global Ratingshttps://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/research/articles/231127-economic-research-economic-outlook-emerging-markets-q1-2024-challenging-global-conditions-will-constrain-gr-12923458Fitch Ratings Fitch Revises Outlook on China to Negative; Affirms at 'A+'https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/fitch-revises-outlook-on-china-to-negative-affirms-at-a-09-04-2024https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

The economy is doing just fine according to many statistics, but according to most people it is anything but. Those aren't just idle malcontents, either. A fundamental fact of the current state of the world is that it will have to reckon for that economic pain and substantial loss. Many now merely believe that worst is behind is, but what if it is still lying just ahead?Eurodollar University's conversations w/Steve Van MetreFRB Philadelphia Q4 2023 Insights Reporthttps://www.philadelphiafed.org/surveys-and-data/2023-q4-large-bankJP Morgan Chase Q1 2024 earningshttps://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmc/jpmorgan-chase-and-co/investor-relations/documents/quarterly-earnings/2024/1st-quarter/6678012b-9242-492b-acd0-1473eabade3c.pdfCitigroup Q1 2024 earningshttps://www.citigroup.com/rcs/citigpa/storage/public/Earnings/Q12024/2024prq1.pdfWells Fargo Q1 2024 earningshttps://www08.wellsfargomedia.com/assets/pdf/about/investor-relations/earnings/first-quarter-2024-earnings.pdfhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Yesterday's US CPI reignited the fierce debate over a possibly sticky inflation future. China just ended it by reminding the world of its stubborn deflationary present with the third largest monthly CPI drop in the last twenty years. Producer prices also decline which is a solidly disinflationary signal for China and the world regardless of the latest consumer price numbers from elsewhere. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisChina's NBS Consumer prices press releasehttps://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202404/t20240411_1954446.htmlChina's NBS Producer prices press releasehttps://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202404/t20240411_1954447.htmlhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Another CPI comes in higher than expected. This isn't some harbinger of an impending price spiral, just the regular fluctuations in consumer prices driven largely by oil. It has stirred up inflation fears anyway in large part because it seems as if the CPI and especially the core rate is now stuck at a structurally higher rate. History cautions when making those assumptions.  Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysishttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU