Traders Keep Half an Eye on CPI as Jobs Fear Outweighs Inflation
- Stocks gripped by hard landing worries as labor market softens
- S&P 500 fell 4.2% in biggest weekly drop since March 2023
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For two years since the Federal Reserve started its aggressive fight against inflation, equity traders have been glued to their screens on days when the consumer price index was reported.
But things should be different on Wednesday when the latest CPI print hits. Why? Because with inflation heading down toward the Fed’s target and the central bank getting ready to cut interest rates, the reading is less crucial for the stock market. Instead, it’s all about a weakening employment landscape and whether the central bank can avoid a hard landing.