#Gate广场五月交易分享 What is CPI? Why is it so important?

The CPI index, in simple terms, reflects the price level of our daily consumption. As the world's most important central bank, the Federal Reserve's actions influence the entire globe. The core basis for the Fed's interest rate policy is inflation data.

If CPI > expectations: it indicates excessive inflation, and the Fed may maintain high interest rates or even raise them to cool down the economy.
CPI < expectations: it means inflation is under control, reducing the pressure for the Fed to cut rates, which can lead to rate cuts and increased market liquidity.

The US dollar is the global reserve currency, and US interest rates (determined by CPI) directly affect global capital flows:

Because the CPI index is directly related to US interest rates, global investors adjust their positions based on changes in interest rate differentials. If expectations of rate cuts in the US strengthen, the attractiveness of holding dollar assets decreases, leading to capital outflows from the US, and gains in other countries' stock markets and assets.

Markets not only watch the overall CPI but also focus on core CPI (excluding food and energy).
This is because food and energy prices are highly volatile, but service prices (such as rent, medical care, education) are more "sticky." If core CPI remains high (for example, previous rent data), it indicates that inflation is difficult to eliminate through simple market adjustments, which makes the Fed more hawkish, thereby long-term suppressing market sentiment and choosing not to cut rates.

The Federal Reserve's official long-term inflation target is 2%.
Here's why this number is chosen: this target is a delicate balance. Moderate inflation is beneficial for economic growth, encouraging consumption and investment, and avoiding a vicious cycle of falling prices and people hoarding money instead of investing. It can motivate people to work harder under some pressure.

In summary: the closer the core CPI index is to the Fed's target, the better the days for global financial markets.
And a decline in the US dollar index mainly benefits gold, commodities, and stocks, and is favorable to other currencies in the foreign exchange market.