The rise in food prices has pushed the wholesale inflation in the United States to accelerate unexpectedly. The prospect of interest rate cuts next year is uncertain. The wholesale inflation rate in the United States unexpectedly rose in November, and the soaring egg price masked the moderate impact of price increases in other regions. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday, the producer price index (PPI) rose by 0.4% month-on-month, the biggest increase since June, and economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected a median of 0.2%. PPI increased by 3% compared with the same period of last year, the biggest increase since the beginning of 2023. The core PPI excluding food and energy increased by 0.2% from the previous month and 3.4% from the same period of last year. The CPI report released on Wednesday showed that the core inflation rate in the United States remained firm for the fourth consecutive month. This series of data brought uncertainty to the outlook of prices and interest rates next year, especially when Trump threatened to raise import tariffs after taking office. Economists pay close attention to the PPI report because several of its breakdown data will affect the personal consumption expenditure price index (PCE) that the Federal Reserve is concerned about. Although PCE data will not be released before the Fed policy meeting next week, central bank officials will have a good understanding of the data according to CPI and PPI reports. The market generally expects the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 25 basis points next week, but the pace of interest rate cuts is expected to slow down next year.The Prime Minister of Qatar and the Iranian Foreign Minister discussed the situation in Syria by telephone. On December 12, local time, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Mohammed and the Iranian Foreign Minister Alagh made a phone call, focusing on the situation in Syria. The two sides stressed that the international community must take action to prevent Israel from continuing to attack Syria's infrastructure and occupy Syrian territory. The two sides also expressed their willingness to help Syria achieve stability and establish an inclusive political system in line with the wishes of the Syrian people. (CCTV News)
Australia plans to force technology giants to pay for news content. The Australian government announced a new tax plan on the 12th, which will force technology giants to pay for news content to Australian media companies, otherwise they will face the risk of being charged higher taxes. According to the Australian government's plan, all digital platforms with an annual income of more than A $250 million (about US$ 160 million) in Australia must reach a commercial agreement with Australian media organizations on the use of news content, otherwise they will face the risk of being charged higher taxes. (Xinhua News Agency)Ceng Gang, Shanghai Finance and Development Laboratory: Judging from the economic situation and policy space, it is still possible to lower the RRR and cut interest rates in the future. The Central Economic Work Conference proposed to implement a moderately loose monetary policy. In this regard, Ceng Gang, chief expert and director of Shanghai Finance and Development Laboratory, said that the tone of "moderately loose" monetary policy is in the same strain as that of Politburo meeting of the Chinese Communist Party. China's monetary policy has been adjusted from "steady" to "moderately loose", aiming at boosting economic growth and alleviating downward pressure through a more active monetary policy, while providing support for key areas and structural adjustment. In response to the expression of "timely RRR cuts and interest rate cuts", Ceng Gang believes that from the current economic situation and policy space, it is still possible to implement RRR cuts in the future, especially in targeted cuts to required reserve ratios, to release long-term liquidity; The possibility of interest rate cuts is also greater, and it is expected that a one-time large-scale interest rate cut will be implemented at the end of this year or early next year. (SSE)Central Economic Work Conference: Expanding high-level opening to the outside world and stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investment. The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing on December 11th and 12th. The meeting proposed to expand independent opening and unilateral opening in an orderly manner, steadily expand institutional opening, promote the free trade pilot zone to improve quality and efficiency and expand the reform mandate, and accelerate the implementation of the core policy of Hainan Free Trade Port. Actively develop service trade, green trade and digital trade. Deepen the reform of foreign investment promotion system and mechanism. We will steadily open up the service industry, expand pilot projects in the fields of telecommunications, medical care and education, and continue to build the brand of "Invest in China". Promote high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", deepen and improve the overseas comprehensive service system. (Xinhua News Agency)
US President-elect Trump: We will reduce the corporate tax to 15%.The promotion of "Investing in China" in the Middle East was held in the United Arab Emirates, and the promotion of "Investing in China" in the Middle East and the docking of industrial capital between China and the Middle East were held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, from 11th to 12th. 40 China enterprises from the fields of new energy, advanced manufacturing, biomedicine, information technology, etc. negotiated and docked with more than 70 sovereign wealth funds and investment institutions in the Middle East.European Central Bank President Lagarde: Economic growth in the euro zone is facing downside risks. European Central Bank President Lagarde said that the latest information shows that the euro zone economy is losing momentum and the risk of economic growth is on the downside. Lagarde said at a news conference in Frankfurt on Thursday that in the face of weak demand and highly uncertain prospects, enterprises are curbing investment spending-labor demand continues to weaken, exports are also weak, and the labor market remains flexible. "Over time, the economy should strengthen, though at a slower pace than previously expected," she said.