Inflation in US - Expectations

UNITED STATES

5Y Breakevens

ON TARGET | 2.24%
15-08-202314-12-202317-04-202416-08-202418-12-202422-04-202521-08-202523-12-202524-04-20262%2.2%2.4%2.6%
UNITED STATES

5y5y Forward

AROUND TARGET | 2.33%
21-08-202320-12-202323-04-202422-08-202424-12-202428-04-202527-08-202530-12-202530-04-20262%2.1%2.2%2.3%2.4%2.5%
UNITED STATES

10-year Real Yield

HEADWIND | 2.41%
15-08-202314-12-202317-04-202416-08-202418-12-202422-04-202521-08-202523-12-202524-04-20261.6%1.8%2%2.2%2.4%

Insights

CONCEPT

We track where the market thinks US inflation is heading using three key gauges: (1) The 5-year inflation breakevens - the market’s bet on average EU inflation over the next 5 years; (2) The 5y5y forward - what the market expects 5-year inflation to look like 5 years from now, showing the market’s long-term faith in the Fed; (3) 10-year real Treasury yields (nominal yields less breakevens) - the "safe" hurdle rate available for investors after inflation.

CURRENT READINGS
  • Investors currently expect US inflation to run at around 2.2% in the near future (ON TARGET). With 5y5y forwards at 2.33% (AROUND TARGET), markets maintain faith in the FED's ability to keep it on target long term.
MARKET IMPLICATIONS

Cartesio pairs these inflation expectations with long-term US real yields, now at 2.41% (HEADWIND), to decode what the market is pricing in: moderate price reflation coupled with rising growth prospects, a positive scenario for stocks.

Real long-term Treasury yields measure the inflation-adjusted returns available to investors. When real yields are high and rising—due to central bank hikes or falling inflation—investors are tempted to shift away from stocks toward fixed-income. Conversely, lower real yields push investors to own more stocks as Treasuries become less appealing.