Energy is the New Inflation Wildcard
June 16, 2025 By Sage Advisory
While recent inflation readings have been softer than expected, the more immediate inflation risk may come from rising energy prices driven by renewed geopolitical instability. Tensions between Israel and Iran have pushed oil prices higher, reminding policymakers and markets that while spot inflation is cooling, energy remains the most likely catalyst for near-term inflation surprises.
Core inflation has eased in recent months. May’s CPI came in below expectations, rising 0.08% on the month (2.35% YoY), with core CPI rising 0.13% in May (2.79% YoY). PPI has softened as well, with little sign of upstream pressures feeding into consumer prices. Most importantly for the Fed, recent inflation readings mean that core PCE should be lower than previously thought as well.
Source: Citi, Bloomberg
While tariffs can raise input costs, the muted market response and recent prints suggest these effects may take time to work through the supply chain. This reflects the narrow scope of the tariffs. Many affected goods are a small share of consumer spending, and producers may initially absorb costs. Broader disinflationary trends — inventory normalization, lower shipping costs, and weaker discretionary demand — could have offset tariff pressures.
In contrast, oil’s rise introduces a more immediate inflation risk. Middle East tensions have escalated, raising concerns over crude supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Since early May, WTI crude has climbed from a low of $55 to the low $70s. Markets are pricing in higher risk premiums as broader conflict risks rise. As we’ve mentioned in a prior Notes, the price movement of spot crude moves in-line with long-term inflation expectations. Long-term inflation expectations have not responded to the recent oil price shock, although it could be too early to call as it has been less than two trading sessions as of the writing of this Notes.
Source: Bloomberg
Oil price spikes filter into inflation quickly. Higher energy prices push up headline CPI directly and raise transportation, utility, and input costs. If oil stays elevated or climbs, inflation prints could rise by late summer, just as the Fed faces key rate cut decisions.
Markets have priced in nearly two 25 bps rate cuts through December, encouraged by softer inflation and a cooling labor market. But renewed energy volatility complicates that outlook. While the Fed has signaled that it can look past short-term energy swings, sustained price increases spilling into core inflation or expectations may force the Fed to stay on hold for longer. For now, expectations remain anchored, but another oil surge could challenge whether policy is “sufficiently restrictive.”
Recent data suggests that the US economy is absorbing tariff shocks better than feared, with price effects unfolding gradually. This gives the Fed room and keeps the disinflation narrative intact. But energy markets could change that calculus. As geopolitical risks remain, energy prices now represent the clearest upside risk to inflation. If oil continues climbing or stays elevated, the second half of 2025 may become a more complicated balancing act — resilient disinflation on one hand, and renewed energy-driven pressure on the other.
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