US Inflation rises 7.5% over the past year, even more than expected and the highest since 1982

• US Consumer prices surged more than expected over the past 12 months, indicating a worsening outlook for inflation and cementing the likelihood of substantial interest rate hikes this year. The consumer price index for January, which measures the costs of dozens of everyday consumer goods, rose 7.5% compared to a year ago, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That compared to Dow Jones estimates of 7.2% for the closely watched inflation gauge. It was the highest reading since February 1982. 
• Stripping out volatile gas and grocery costs, the CPI increased 6%, compared to the estimate of 5.9%. Core inflation rose at its fastest level since August 1982. The monthly CPI rates also came in hotter than expected, with the headline and core CPI both rising 0.6%, compared to the estimates for a 0.4% increase on both measures. 
• Stock market futures declined following the report, with rate-sensitive tech stocks hit especially hard. Government bond yields rose sharply, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury note touching 2%, its highest since August 2019. Markets also got more aggressive in pricing rate hikes ahead. 
• The chances of a 0.5 percentage point Fed rate hike in March rose to 44.3% following the data release, compared to 25% just before, according to CME data. Chances of a sixth quarter-percentage-point hike increased to about 63%, compared to about 53% before the release.

(Source: CNBC News)