2023 is shaping up as an action-packed year for tax and financial planning maneuvers. With a 19.6% return on the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock in the first six months of 2023 and a much faster than expected 2.4% gross domestic product growth rate in the U.S. economy, stock prices and the economy have risen much more than expected.
Inflation is a topic that often grabs headlines and sparks concern among investors. However, it’s important to understand that not all inflation is bad for your financial well-being. In fact, a controlled and moderate level of inflation can bring certain benefits to your investment portfolio and overall wealth management strategy. In this article, we will explore why some inflation can be advantageous for investors.
With the economy stronger than expected and inflation cooling fast, it’s a Goldilocks economy, and the outlook for 2024 is brightening.
The 12-month rate of inflation plunged again in June, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. CPI measures inflation based on prices of a fixed basket of monthly household expenses. The Headline 12-month rate of inflation – the rise in the cost of all the items in the fixed basket household expenses — declined to 3% from 4% in May. It was the second month in a row in which the 12-month rate of inflation declined a full percentage point.
Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, rose a scant 0.1% in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, and the Federal Reserve may be done with raising interest rates, while economic growth is stronger than expected. The list of bullish fundamentals is much longer than the list of bearish signals, and a turning point in the outlook could be taking hold.
Economist Fritz Meyer yesterday said inflation is slowing rapidly and warned of a period of deflation.
At his monthly webinar for CFP, CPA, CIMA, CFA professionals, Mr. Meyer showed several charts tracking inflation expectations, including the two shown below.