by Simon Moore
Forbes
The upcoming Consumer Price Index figures for March will be closely analyzed by Federal Open Market Committee members ahead of their next meeting on May 1. No change in interest rates is expected at the meeting. But relatively benign inflation data could pave the way for a summer interest rate cut, according to the expectations of most FOMC officials and fixed-income markets.
Upcoming Inflation Data
The CPI report for March 2024 will be released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 10 at 8:30 a.m. ET. As of February’s CPI report, annual inflation is 3.2%, or 3.8% excluding food and energy. That data compares with the FOMC’s annual inflation target of 2%.