Markets price in higher chance of Fed rate cut in December after in-line CPI data

Following today's inflation data, traders of short-term interest-rate futures contracts adjusted their expectations to now see a heightened probability of an additional quarter-point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in its December meeting.

The likelihood of a Fed rate cut to the 4.25%-4.5% range in December has increased to 80%, a significant rise from the roughly 60% chance priced in prior to the inflation data release.

Furthermore, traders anticipate a deceleration in the pace of rate reductions for the following year, with expectations that the Fed will pause rate cuts once the policy rate reaches the 3.75%-4% range.

The U.S. Labor Department's data indicated a slight acceleration in headline inflation for October, an outcome that was anticipated and is expected to be scrutinized by the Federal Reserve as it approaches its next policy meeting.

The consumer price index (CPI), a critical indicator of price movements in the world's largest economy, climbed by 2.6% year-over-year in October, a slight increase from 2.4% in September. On a month-to-month basis, the CPI rose by 0.2%, consistent with the previous month's increase.

Excluding the more volatile components such as food and energy, the "core" CPI measure saw a 3.3% increase from the previous year and a 0.3% rise month-over-month, mirroring the figures recorded in September.

The Federal Reserve's most recent action, last week, involved a widely expected cut in borrowing costs by 25 basis points, bringing the rate to a range of 4.50% to 4.75%.

The central bank acknowledged that inflation remains "somewhat elevated," but it assessed that the risks to maintaining stable price growth and a robust employment market were "roughly in balance."

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