Inflation expectations: normalcy in sight?
The recent data points and trends suggest that inflation is likely to come down at a faster pace than expected. This is in stark contrast to last year when the…
Fed hopes for inflation psych-out, stable expectations, as prices rise
The Federal Reserve’s mission is to maintain “stable prices,” but Chair Jerome Powell’s take on that may seem surprising: He doesn’t really care if people pay more for stuff. Instead,…
MPC meeting: navigating between disinflation and external fragility
Monetary policy decision is due today. Three macro variables are making a compelling argument for a big rate cut. These include sharply falling headline inflation, consistently running primary fiscal surplus,…
Beyond inflation: the hidden risks in Pakistan’s economic recovery
Pakistan’s economy is addicted to debt. Lavish government spending, recklessly financed through borrowing has resulted in a precarious debt trap, a depreciated rupee, escalating inflation, and an economy on the…
Fall in the rate of inflation
The very good news is that there has been a precipitate drop in the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Pakistan Bureau of…
Measures aimed at checking inflation
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October 2024 was 7.2 percent against 6.9 percent the month before – a rise of 0.3 percent which, barring June 2024 when it rose…
Inflation and its discontents
PAKISTANIS are experiencing the most severe cost-of-living crisis in their lifetime. Since April last year, official consumer price inflation has recorded a cumulative increase of 33 per cent (annualised). This…
Aurangzeb: legitimate expectations?
Expectations are extremely high with the appointment of Muhammad Aurangzeb as finance minister on 11 March 2024 – a position that he was reportedly offered even during the caretaker setup…
Traders step up ECB rate cut bets, sensing shift on inflation front
Traders on Thursday piled on bets that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates from April as they took the view that policymakers are growing more comfortable with the…
Inflation-focused Fed shoots down Wall Street’s hopes of March cut
Investors hoping for imminent rate cuts by the Federal Reserve received a sobering reminder of the US central bank’s focus on fighting inflation, after Chairman Jerome Powell poured cold water…
