US CPI Report Today: The Moment of Truth for 2026 cover art

US CPI Report Today: The Moment of Truth for 2026

US CPI Report Today: The Moment of Truth for 2026

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

In less than 1 hour... the most important number of 2026 drops. At 8:30 AM Eastern, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the January CPI report. Will inflation finally break below 2.5%... confirming the soft landing? Or will we get another hot surprise?


Here's what most people don't know: 10 out of the last 11 January CPI reports have surprised to the UPSIDE. JPMorgan sees a 42% chance of a hot print. Barclays says there's meaningful upside risk.


Today's Show:

  • The January Curse: Why January inflation always runs hot - the annual price reset phenomenon and residual seasonality
  • What JPMorgan Is Seeing: 42.5% odds of a hotter print, but limited market reaction if it happens - the fear is priced in
  • Inside The Fed's Head: A structurally dovish Fed more likely to save the labor market than fight inflation
  • Powell's Swan Song: April could be his last meeting - 47% chance of a final rate cut
  • What To Watch: Core services, shelter costs, tariff passthrough, car insurance and healthcare
  • The Three Scenarios: Cool (face ripper rally), In-Line (yawn), Hot (contained damage)


Key Numbers:

  • 2.5% — Consensus CPI forecast (lowest since May 2025)
  • 10 out of 11 — January CPIs that surprised hot
  • 42.5% — JPMorgan's odds of a hotter print
  • 3.5-3.75% — Current Fed funds rate
  • 60 bps — Rate cuts priced for 2026 (2-3 cuts)
  • 50% — Odds of first cut in June
  • 47% — Odds of cut at Powell's final April meeting


Key Insight:

POSITIONING matters more than PREDICTION. The market is already braced for bad news. A cool print could be the bigger surprise.


Follow Money Men:

→ Website: moneymen.fm

→ X/Twitter: @moneymenpod


Tools We Use:

→ TradingView: Get TradingView (Charts & analysis)


Some links above support the show at no extra cost to you.

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (02:00) - Setting The Stage
  • (05:00) - The January Curse
  • (08:00) - What JPMorgan Is Seeing
  • (10:30) - Inside The Fed's Head
  • (13:00) - The Rate Cut Math
  • (15:30) - What To Watch
  • (18:00) - The Three Scenarios
  • (21:00) - The Bigger Picture
  • (23:00) - Outro
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.