Overview
- U.S. CPI rose 0.3% in December and 2.7% year over year, with core CPI up 0.2% on the month and 2.6% annually, the slowest core pace since March 2021.
- Food costs climbed 0.7% in December and utilities remained elevated, intensifying affordability strains that fall hardest on lower‑income households.
- Shutdown-delayed data show U.S. producer prices increased 0.2% in November and 3.0% from a year earlier, led by higher energy costs while services were flat.
- Following the CPI release, CME pricing pointed to very high odds that the Federal Reserve will keep rates unchanged at its Jan. 27–28 meeting.
- India’s WPI returned to positive territory at 0.83% year over year in December and 0.71% month over month, driven by manufactured goods and select food items as fuel and power stayed in deflation.