Friday preview: US inflation expected to creep higher

US inflation data will be in focus on Friday as the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting looms.

Economists expect the consumer price index rose an annualised 1.0% in August, compared to 0.8% a month earlier.

On the month, CPI is forecast to increase 0.1% in August following zero growth the previous month.

Excluding food and energy, inflation is predicted to rise 0.2% month-on-month and 2.2% year-on-year in August, following June’s monthly 0.1% gain and yearly 2.2% increase.

HSBC analysts said they expect that hotel rates and lodging rates rebounded after a decline in July, but estimate that airline fares and tuition costs were unchanged.

The Federal Reserve, which is targeting 2% inflation, is scrutinising US data closely as it determines the timing of its next rate increase. The US central bank is due to meet 20-21 September.

Fed governor Lael Brainard on Monday said she wanted to see signs of rising inflation before raising interest rates.

“Recent developments suggest some reasons to be concerned more about undershooting than overshooting” on inflation, she told the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Friday 16 September

INTERIMS
BrainJuicer Group, Mereo Biopharma Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
BlackRock World Mining Trust, Hazel Renewable Energy VCT 1, Hazel Renewable Energy VCT 2, Henderson Group, IMI, LPA Group, Moneysupermarket.com Group, Pearson

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
BP, Carnival

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Index (US) (13:30)
U. of Michigan Confidence (Prelim) (US) (15:00)

Q2
Mereo Biopharma Group

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Finsbury Food Group

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PJSC Megafon GDR (Reg S)

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Avengardco Investments Public Ltd GDR, ECO Animal Health Group, Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd, Tungsten Corporation

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