Erwartet wurde die Kernrate bei 0,2 %. Dass die Zahl etwas niedriger ausfiel, liegt an den
stark gesunkenen Auto-Preisen, die schon vorgestern die PPI-Kernrate auf absurde -0,9 % drückten (demnach gibt es in USA Deflation... ;-))
Merkwürdigerweise notieren US-Autoaktien - darunter Ford und GM (beide tendenziell pleitebedroht) - bei neuen Höchstkursen. Wie sollen die denn mehr verdienen, wenn die Autopreise gesunken sind?
Was die niedrige monatliche CPI-Kernrate entwertet, ist die
über das Jahr gerechnete Kerninflation, die immer noch bei 2,7 % liegt (der Wohlfühl-Korridor der Fed liegt bei 1 bis 2 %)
Hier die aktuellen Zahlen, von mir kommentiert:
U.S. Oct. core CPI up 0.1% vs. 0.2% expectedDass der CPI insgesamt um 0,5 % fiel...
U.S. Oct. CPI falls 0.5% vs. -0.2% expected
... liegt vor allem an den stark gesunkenden Benzinpreisen:
U.S. Oct. CPI energy prices fall 7.0%
Über das Jahr gesehen bleibt die Kerninflation hoch:
U.S. core CPI up 2.7% y-o-y vs. 2.9% in Sept.Bei den Löhnen besteht weiterhin Druck (inflationstreibend):
U.S. real weekly earnings up 3.2% y-o-yAuch die Mieten (bzw. deren Äquivalent) sind deutlich gestiegen:
U.S. Oct. CPI owners' equivalent rent up 0.4%Der Arbeitsmarkt lief seitwärts
U.S. continuing jobless claims flat at 2.44 mlnU.S. initial weekly jobless claims fall 2,000 to 308,000
U.S. continuing jobless claims flat at 2.44 mln
ECONOMIC REPORT
Core inflation eases to 0.1% in OctoberCPI falls 0.5% for second month in a row on falling gas prices
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
Last Update: 8:48 AM ET Nov 16, 2006
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Consumer price inflation eased in October, led by falling prices for gasoline and cars, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
The consumer price index fell 0.5% for the second month in a row, led by falling gas and car prices. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.1%, the slowest pace in eight months.
The figures provide hope that inflationary pressures are moderating, and could give the Federal Reserve room to cut interest rates if the economy slows too much over the next few quarters.
[Scheint wohl "vorauseilender Gehorsam" der US-Statistiker zu sein - A.L.]
The numbers were much better than expected. Economists were forecasting the CPI to fall 0.2% and the core rate to rise 0.2%, according to a survey conducted by MarketWatch.
The core inflation rate has now risen 2.7% in the past year, down from a five-year high of 2.9% a month ago. In the past three months, the core rate has risen at a 2.3% pace, near the top of the Federal Reserve's comfort zone.
Fed officials have said they view inflation as the greatest risk to a stable economy, and judge that inflation is too high. They do expect, however, that slower growth should reduce inflation over time.
The CPI is up 1.3% in the past year, the slowest inflation since June 2002 [aber nur, weil Benzin seit Sommer um 30 % billiger wurde - A.L.]. In the past three months, the CPI has fallen at a 2.9% annual rate, as gasoline prices have plunged.
With inflation falling in October, real weekly wages increased 1.3% from September. Real weekly earnings (adjusted for inflation) are up 3.2% in the past year.
In a separate report, the Labor Department said initial and continuing jobless claims were nearly unchanged in the most recent weeks.
Energy prices fell 7%, as gasoline prices dropped 11.1%. Natural gas prices fell a record 7.7%. Energy prices are down 11.3% in the past year.
Housing prices were flat in October, due to falling fuel bills and hotel fares [??? was haben Hotelübernachtungspreise mit Hauskaufpreisen zu tun? - A.L.]. Rents and owners' equivalent rent both rose 0.4%.
Transportation costs fell 3.1% on lower fuel bills. New car prices fell 0.1% and air fares fell 1.4%. Apparel [Bekleidung] prices fell 0.7%, reversing September's 0.6% gain. Medical care prices rose 0.3%. Hospital services prices rose 0.4%, while drug prices fell 0.2%. Food prices rose 0.3%, led by higher prices for vegetables, dairy and beef.
Rex Nutting is Washington bureau chief of MarketWatch.