Syz the moment

Core U.S. consumer prices rose less than predicted in December, reinforcing hopes that inflation is tempering as the Federal Reserve contemplates its next move on interest rates. The consumer price index, a broad measure of the costs for goods and services across the sprawling U.S. economy, posted an increase of 0.3% for the month, putting the headline all-items annual rate at 2.7%. Both were exactly in line with the Dow Jones consensus estimate. At the same time, core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, showed a 0.2% gain on a monthly basis and 2.6% annually. Both were 0.1 percentage point below expectations. Source: CNBC Peter Tuchman, @EinsteinoWallSt

That's a significant move upward. Yes you read it correctly +5.4% !!!! Real personal consumption expenditures growth increased from 2.4% to 3.0%. Net exports increased from -0.30% to 1.97%. Colling inflation, higher production, and higher GDP growth all seem very promising for the US economy. What comes next is $350B tax cut, Fed balance sheet expansion and maybe more Fed rate cuts... Source: Truflation, AtlantaFed

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released yesterday preliminary Productivity and Costs data for Q3 2025 (July-September) and it’s a masterclass in efficiency. U.S. productivity just surged +4.9%—the strongest reading we’ve seen in nearly 6 years. The number is sharply above 3.3% consensus expectation, and higher than the previous 4.2% (revised up for Q2). But here is the real kicker: While output is soaring, labor costs actually fell -1.9%. In the world of economics, this is the Holy Grail. 🏆 The breakdown: Productivity: Jumped from ~3.3% ➡️ 4.9% Labor Costs: Flipped from +1% ➡️ -1.9% Indeed, Hourly compensation increased with figures varying around +4-5%. But Unit labor costs (compensation adjusted for productivity gains) declined or rose modestly, reflecting that productivity growth outpaced wage gains. Why does this matter to you? It means we are seeing massive growth without the inflationary "tax." This indicates accelerating economic efficiency, often driven by technology, innovation, or better processes. This is probably why the Atlanta Fed just hiked its Q4 GDP forecast to a staggering +5.4%. The Productivity and Costs report measures how efficiently the economy produces goods and services. This robust productivity growth is positive for the economy, as it helps contain wage-driven inflationary pressures and supports potential Fed rate cuts without overheating. This is bullish for markets, the economy, and risk assets. Source: Quantus Insights, Truflation

"German manufacturing orders for November surprised sharply to the upside, with the year-on-year figure rising +10.5%, versus expectations of +2.9%. Outside of the post-Covid rebound, this marks the strongest increase in almost 15 years. The data were boosted by large orders linked to government rearmament plans, but even stripping out such lumpy items, there has been a clear and gradual improvement in underlying momentum over recent months“ (Jim Reid, Deutsche Bank) Source: DB through Daniel D. Eckert @Tiefseher on X

High interest rates were supposed to "break" the economy by now. We all expected a collapse. So why are we still standing? It comes down to one massive shift that almost everyone is missing: The Great Private Sector De-leveraging. Here’s the breakdown: 1. Private Debt > Government Debt 🏦 Unlike the government, you and I can’t print money. If a household gets buried in debt, the pain is real and immediate. This is where economic "breaks" actually happen. 2. The 15-Year Cleanup 🧹 Since 2008, while we were focused on government deficits, the private sector (US, UK, EU) was quietly de-leveraging. Households and businesses have spent over a decade cleaning up their balance sheets. 3. The "Baton Pass" 🏃‍♂️💨 Governments took over the burden of money creation. Massive fiscal stimulus allowed the private sector to reduce its debt as a % of GDP. Essentially, the public sector took the hit so the private sector could heal. 4. The Result? Resilience. 💪 A lean private sector can handle 5% interest rates much better than an over-leveraged one. That’s why the "inevitable" crash hasn't arrived. The Big Question for 2026: How long can governments keep expanding deficits before they hit the wall of inflation and credibility? Can this "beautiful" de-leveraging continue forever? The baton has been passed... but is the runner running out of breath? 🏃‍♂️⛽ Source: Alfonso Peccatiello @ The Macro Compass - Institutional Macro

Yields on junk bonds have fallen to the lowest since 2022, despite bankruptcies starting to creep higher. Source: Bloomberg, Lisa Abramowicz @lisaabramowicz1

Consumer prices rose 1.8% in Dec YoY, below the 2.1% forecast. The slowdown was driven mainly by falling energy prices and a sharp easing in food inflation, which dropped to just 0.8%. Core inflation also declined to 2.4%, although service inflation remains stubbornly high at 3.5%. Source: HolgerZ, Bloomberg

The ISM Manufacturing is still trending lower, which means the US economy is still struggling. Source: www.investing.com, Bull Theory