Stratos Investment Management

Consumer Price data was released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, showing month-over-month changes in inflation after removing the impact of food and energy rose .4% versus expectations for a 0.3% increase. This was unchanged from January. On a year-over-year basis, CPI ex-Food and Energy rose 3.8% versus expectations for 3.7%. With…

Comedian Arte Johnson, in the 1960’s show “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In”, had a character that would respond to bits with the phrase, “very interesting…” The same could be applied to the employment data released this morning, Friday, March 8, 2024. In the release, the US economy added 275,000 jobs verses the 200,000 expected by…

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its index of Producer Prices (PPI) this morning and it surprised to the upside. The PPI for final demand increased 0.3% (3.6% annualized) in January on a seasonally adjusted basis and December’s reading was revised upward to a decline of 0.1% (up from an initial -0.2% reading). Economists…

Inflation data came in a bit hotter than expected with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting this morning (February 13, 2024) that its Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.1% on a twelve-month basis versus expectations for a rise of 2.9%. The core rate, which removes more volatile food and energy components, rose 3.9% versus expectations…

As was largely expected, The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) left the target range for its Fed Funds rate unchanged at 5.25 – 5.50%. What did change, however, was the wording in its announcement that had indicated the potential for hikes. That wording would seem to position the FOMC to begin reducing rates at…