After the release of US economic data, traders increased their bets on the Fed's interest rate cut next year, and US short-term interest rate futures narrowed and fell earlier.Spot gold fell 1% to $2,690.81. COMEX silver futures fell 1.5% in the day to $32.47 per ounce.The rise in food prices has pushed the wholesale inflation in the United States to accelerate unexpectedly. The prospect of interest rate cuts next year is uncertain. The wholesale inflation rate in the United States unexpectedly rose in November, and the soaring egg price masked the moderate impact of price increases in other regions. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday, the producer price index (PPI) rose by 0.4% month-on-month, the biggest increase since June, and economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected a median of 0.2%. PPI increased by 3% compared with the same period of last year, the biggest increase since the beginning of 2023. The core PPI excluding food and energy increased by 0.2% from the previous month and 3.4% from the same period of last year. The CPI report released on Wednesday showed that the core inflation rate in the United States remained firm for the fourth consecutive month. This series of data brought uncertainty to the outlook of prices and interest rates next year, especially when Trump threatened to raise import tariffs after taking office. Economists pay close attention to the PPI report because several of its breakdown data will affect the personal consumption expenditure price index (PCE) that the Federal Reserve is concerned about. Although PCE data will not be released before the Fed policy meeting next week, central bank officials will have a good understanding of the data according to CPI and PPI reports. The market generally expects the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 25 basis points next week, but the pace of interest rate cuts is expected to slow down next year.
Central Economic Work Conference: Implementing the Medical and Health Foundation Project and Formulating the Policy of Promoting Birth, which was held in Beijing from December 11th to 12th. The meeting proposed to implement employment support plans for key areas, key industries, urban and rural grassroots and small and medium-sized enterprises to promote the employment of key groups. Strengthen the protection of workers' rights and interests in flexible employment and new employment forms. We will implement policies to help industries and employment, ensure that large-scale return to poverty does not occur, and ensure the basic livelihood of people in need. Promote the high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education and solidly promote the expansion of high-quality undergraduate courses. Implement the medical and health foundation project and formulate policies to promote fertility. Develop community-supported home-based care for the aged and expand inclusive care for the aged. Adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao experience" in the new era and strengthen the public security system. (Xinhua News Agency)European Central Bank President Lagarde: Labor cost growth will slow down.Government statement: British Prime Minister Stamer will attend the informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on February 3rd.
European Central Bank President Lagarde: Regardless of the market pricing of interest rate hikes, European Central Bank President Lagarde said that the European Central Bank will adjust its policies according to the data and will decide the policies of each meeting one by one. The neutral interest rate cannot be accurately determined without considering the market pricing of interest rate hikes.French Foreign Ministry spokesman: It is too early to discuss lifting EU sanctions against Syria.The European Central Bank predicts that inflation will decline in 2025, and the European Central Bank currently predicts that inflation will cool down slightly faster than predicted in September. The bank's latest forecast shows that the average inflation rate in 2024 and 2025 is 2.4% and 2.1% respectively, while the previous forecast is 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. After cutting interest rates by 25 basis points, the European Central Bank said in a statement: "The anti-inflation process is on the right track." The bank said: "Domestic inflation has declined slightly, but it is still at a high level, mainly because wages and prices in some industries are still adapting to the past inflation surge, but there is a great delay." The European Central Bank maintains its inflation forecast of 1.9% in 2026, and predicts that the average inflation rate in 2027 will be 2.1%.