U.S. Labor Market and Inflation Data Anticipated Amid Economic Concerns

According to BlockBeats, the U.S. Department of Labor is set to release key economic data on December 18 at 21:30 UTC+8. The report will include the November unadjusted Consumer Price Index (CPI) year-on-year rate, forecasted at 3.1%, initial jobless claims for the week ending December 13, and the November unadjusted core CPI year-on-year data. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noted in a speech on December 11 that the labor market appears to be gradually cooling, although inflation levels remain somewhat elevated. He highlighted that inflation risks are skewed to the upside, with labor demand having significantly slowed and showing signs of weakening. Goldman Sachs analyst Kay Haigh commented that the Federal Reserve has reached the end of its "preventive rate cuts." She emphasized that further weakening in labor market data is necessary to justify additional near-term easing policies.