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Mixed U.S. CPI Report to Curb EUR/USD Losses

Mixed U.S. CPI Report to Curb EUR/USD Losses

- U.S. Consumer Price Index to Rise Annualized 2.4%- Highest Reading Since March 2012.

- Core Rate of Inflation to Slow for First Time Since October.

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Trading the News: U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A pickup in the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) may heighten the appeal of the dollar as the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) appears to be on course to further normalize monetary policy in 2017, but a marked slowdown in the core rate of inflation may drag on interest rate expectations as the central bank persistently warns ‘market-based measures of inflation compensation remain low; most survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed, on balance.’

Join DailyFX Currency Analyst Christopher Vecchio to Cover the CPI Release

What’s Expected:

DailyFX Calendar

Click Here for the DailyFX Calendar

Why Is This Event Important:

Recent comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen suggests the committee may pay increased attention to the developments in the core rate of inflation as the central bank head argues ‘inflation moved up over the past year, mainly because of the diminishing effects of the earlier declines in energy prices and import prices,’ and the FOMC may continue to endorse a wait-and-see approach at its next interest rate decision on March 15 as ‘considerable uncertainty attends the economic outlook.’ With that said, signs of softening price growth may produce near-term headwinds for the greenback, but the dollar may continue to gain ground throughout 2017 as Fed Fund Futures continue to highlight a greater than 60% probability for a June rate-hike.

Expectations: Bearish Argument/Scenario

ReleaseExpectedActual
Consumer Credit (DEC)$20.000B$14.160B
Gross Domestic Product (Annualized) (QoQ) (4Q A)2.2%1.9%
Durable Goods Orders (DEC P)2.5%-0.4%

Waning demand for large ticket-items paired with the slowdown in private-sector lending may weigh on price growth, and a weaker-than-expected CPI print may spark a bearish reaction in the U.S. dollar as it drags on interest rate expectations.

Risk: Bullish Argument/Scenario

ReleaseExpectedActual
Producer Price Index ex. Food & Energy (YoY) (JAN)1.1%1.2%
NFIB Small Business Optimism (JAN)105.0105.9
ISM Manufacturing (JAN)55.056.0

Nevertheless, higher input costs accompanied by the pickup in business sentiment may fuel faster inflation, and a pickup in both the headline and core CPI may fuel the near-term advance in the greenback as it puts increased pressure on the FOMC to raise the benchmark interest rate sooner rather than later.

For More Updates, Join DailyFX Currency Analyst David Song for LIVE Analysis!

How To Trade This Event Risk(Video)

Bearish USD Trade: CPI Report Instills Mixed Outlook for U.S. Price Growth

  • Need green, five-minute candle following the CPI print to consider a long EUR/USD position.
  • If market reaction favors a bearish dollar trade, buy EUR/USD with two separate position.
  • Set stop at the near-by swing low/reasonable distance from entry; look for at least 1:1 risk-to-reward.
  • Move stop to entry on remaining position once initial target is hit; set reasonable limit.

Bullish USD Trade: Headline & Core Inflation Beat Market Expectations

  • Need red, five-minute candle to favor a short EUR/USD position.
  • Implement same strategy as the bearish dollar trade, just in reverse.

Potential Price Targets For The Release

EUR/USD Daily

EUR/USD Daily Chart

Chart - Created Using Trading View

  • Following the failed attempt to test the December high (1.0873), EUR/USD stands at risk of extending the recent series of lower highs & lows especially as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) fails to preserve the bullish formation carried over from November, with the next downside region of interest coming in around 1.0470 (38.2% expansion) to 1.0500 (50% expansion).
  • Interim Resistance: 1.0880 (61.8% expansion) to 1.0910 (38.2% expansion)
  • Interim Support: 1.0340 (2017-low) and 1.0370 (38.2% expansion)

Check out the short-term technical levels that matter for USD/JPY heading into the report!

Impact that the U.S. CPI reporthas had on EUR/USD during the previous release

PeriodData ReleasedEstimateActualPips ChangePips Change

DEC

2016

01/18/2016 13:30 GMT2.1%2.1%+13-38

December 2016 U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI)

EUR/USD 5-Minute

EUR/USD Chart

The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed an annualized 2.1% in December following a 1.7% expansion the month prior, with the core rate of inflation also advancing to 2.2% from 2.1% during the same period. The breakdown of the report showed the pickup was largely driven by a 1.5% rise in energy prices, with transportation costs also advancing 1.0% during the same period, while prices for apparel slipping another 0.7% after contracting 0.5% in November. Despite the better-than-expected print, the greenback struggled to hold its ground, with EUR/USD pushing towards the 1.0700 handle, but the advance was short-lived as the pair ended the day at 1.0629.

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--- Written by David Song, Currency Analyst

To contact David, e-mail dsong@dailyfx.com. Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong.

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DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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