November inflation data: Is the pain finally over?

Let’s all bid inflation the farewell it deserves.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the key measure of inflation.

The November CPI report was released yesterday, giving investors some good news: Inflation is finally consistently declining.

• Monthly: CPI increased 0.1% compared to the previous month (vs. 0.3% forecasted).
• Yearly: CPI increased 7.1% compared to a year ago (vs. 7.3% forecasted).

There were skeptics over October’s inflation numbers. One month of data doesn’t indicate a trend. But what about two months?

• With the second month of better-than-expected numbers — it’s almost safe to say — inflation has peaked.
• Here’s what Economist Paul Ashworth had to say: “Stick a fork in it, inflation is done.”

With the inflation report out, it seems like a 0.50 percentage point hike is in the bag. Something the Netherlands failed to grab.