Markets Sink Following Inflation Report
Inflation numbers are headed in the wrong direction. June’s consumer price index (CPI) came in at 9.1%,
surpassing the expected 8.8% and hitting a fresh 40-year high. The number pretty much locks in another
interest rate rise of 75 basis points (.75%) at the Federal Reserve’s next meeting, scheduled for the last
week of July. It also increases the chances the Fed could bump up rates by a full 1%.
Before the report, Fed futures were forecasting a 14% chance of a 75-basis-point increase at the July
meeting. Now the probability has risen to 50%. The producer price index (PPI) is scheduled for release
on July 14, which will only add fuel to the fire as input costs for producers have gone up and will likely
be above 10%.
That’s disappointing news for markets, where there was thinking a softer reading could lead the Fed to
pause rate raises by September. The S&P 500 initially tumbled following the report’s release but
recovered somewhat by midday. The Dow also slipped more than 100 points before bouncing back to
recover almost all the day’s losses.
You may be feeling a bit of whiplash from the back-and-forth, up-and-down-and-all-around nature of
the markets right now. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any relief in sight yet. The volatility
index (VIX) is currently in the high 20s, and it really needs to get to 35 to 40 before we see a bottom.
Until then, we will continue to see these bear market rallies that collapse when reality sets in.
Summer tends to be really quiet or really volatile. This summer is the latter. With this latest inflation
reading, it’s difficult to see a scenario where the Fed will slow rate increases. However, by the time we
see a significant reduction in inflation, we could be in the middle of an inflation-driven recession.
Inflation isn’t the only potential driver for volatility right now. Earnings season starts this week, and the
market has yet to appreciate the advance guidance that earnings will be lower. Higher interest rates
are severely slowing the housing market. Consumers are tapped out. Increased costs — particularly
those in energy, housing and food — are killing demand for discretionary spending. Americans are
blowing through savings and borrowing more, so an increased amount of their spending is going
toward higher credit card balances.
As an investor, there’s not much you can do except wait out the storm. A 9.1% inflation rate means even
moving to cash doesn’t help. If you are stressed about the current situation, and you haven’t already
done so, you need to reevaluate your risk tolerance and rebalance if necessary.
Markets sink following inflation report
If you’re still comfortable with your plan, you should not be in peril if you are allocated properly. You’ve
come this far, so don’t throw in the towel. Market bottoms are notoriously tough to predict and will
come — and go — without warning. Avoid selling low and chasing the markets back up. Instead, stay
the course and rely on your financial advisor to provide guidance if it feels like you’re losing your way.
Thrive Capital Management, LLC (\"TCM\") is a registered investment advisor (“RIA”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not denote any level of skill or qualification. Insurance products and services are offered through Thrive Financial Services (“TFS”). TCM and TFS (collectively, “Thrive”) are affiliated companies. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Thrive. None of the information contained in this document is intended to offer personalized investment advice and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit any offer to buy a security or any insurance product and is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual\'s situation. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Thrive.
