Public statements by Federal Reserve officials in recent days remain unified in forecasting that the recent deceleration in a key measure of core inflation is "transitory." The first reality check on that outlook via hard data is scheduled for this Friday's April report for the Consumer Price Index ((CPI)).
Economists are expecting that core reading of pricing pressure (CPI, less the volatile food and energy components) will tick up to a 2.1% annual pace, based on Econoday.com's consensus forecast. The Capital Spectator's average point forecast via a combination-forecasting model is a touch lower at 2.0%