US Inflation Data in Focus as Fed Enters Pre-Meeting Blackout Period

Key Facts

1The Federal Reserve is in a blackout period ahead of the March 18 FOMC meeting.

2Deutsche Bank expects February CPI to rise 0.27% MoM and 2.40% YoY.

3Core PCE for January is expected to rise to 3.1% on a year-over-year basis.

4Geopolitical tensions regarding Iran are influencing market sentiment alongside economic data.

Financial markets are bracing for a pivotal week of US economic data, featuring critical inflation reports and labor market indicators. The data arrives as the Federal Reserve enters its official blackout period ahead of the FOMC meeting scheduled for March 18, leaving investors without direct guidance from policymakers. Deutsche Bank analysts project the February Consumer Price Index (CPI) to rise by 0.27% month-over-month, bringing the annual rate to 2.40%. Furthermore, the Core PCE index for January is expected to reach 3.1% year-over-year, suggesting that inflationary pressures remain sticky. Market sentiment is also being shaped by escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran alongside these macroeconomic releases. These indicators will provide essential clarity on inflation trends and the potential path of interest rates while Fed officials remain silent.