Expectations are one of the biggest parts of the inflation process,
There are inflation figures due out Thursday and Friday. The CPI and the PPI both are expected at 0.5 percent (increase), which is a very large gain, but both of those gains are expected to be driven by higher oil prices.
Even if the economy slows, there will still be inflation, ... But there comes a point when the Fed won't pay attention to inflation because of a slowing economy.
The Fed needs to align itself with the inflation expectations of the market, unless it has a strong -- and hopefully accurate -- view about how the inflation trend is evolving.
While it's perhaps desirable for some businesses to have a little more pricing power, the overall rate of inflation could rise at a rate that's very harmful to the economy this year.
This is evidence of what many have said they've personally experienced, ... Many people can relate to the idea that the inflation rate has accelerated, when they take trips to gas station or buy food or health care -- so many products and services.
The Chinese devaluation would be devastating to the equity markets, and it would be good for bonds, ... But that is not a credible fear right now. The inflation that would come from devaluation would cause social instability.
What you're left with is a figure consistent with the inflation rate slowly moving upward,
I think we have conditions in place now that could put off the tightening. Unfortunately, there is some inflation embedding itself.
The inflation news due out on Friday with the producer price index and next Tuesday with the consumer price index will probably be unfriendly,