01/28/2022
The Fed's favorite inflation gauge, the Core PCE, rose 4.9% versus the 4.8% expected from December 2020 to December 2022, the highest level since September 1982 while the monthly number rose 0.5%. However, one key economic data that the financial reporters never cover is the Employment Cost Index (ECI), a measure of inflation for wages. It rose 1% in Q4 2021 down from 1.3% in Q3 while Personal Incomes and Spending also declined ... both positive for bonds. Fed Chair Powell mentioned on Wednesday that the central bank watches the ECI.