CPI’s New Heatwave: Inflation Flimps Up to 3.8%-Fed on Edge?

Delightfully, the latest-American inflation paperwork has once again delivered a flamboyant upset, vindicating the old wives’ tale that the cost of living is once again setting the global thermometers aflame. The headline Consumer Price Index, dashing in with an annualised rise of 3.8% for November, has outshone the polite 3.7% pundits anticipated, and eclipsed yesterday’s modest 3.3% glyph. Even the dignified Core CPI, the economist’s favourite soap opera, took a knee and gallantly climbed to 2.8%, leaving expectations in the dust.

On the monthly front, core inflation nosedived up a brisk 0.4%, a thrilling signal that prices have not only stayed up but have decided to vogue to the left. One can almost hear the applause from the Federal Reserve-yes, those extravagant bankers-who may now feel emboldened to keep their hand on the ‘higher for longer’ lever, which is how they like to describe the ongoing ballet of interest rates. As a consequence, the markets-stocks, crypto, everything-might as well bring their dancing shoes, because volatility is rising like an Aristocratic soufflé that refuses to deflate.

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2026-05-12 16:10