There are many reasons to be horrified about recent events in the Middle East, and the prospect that attacks on shipping might undermine progress against inflation is way, way down the list.
Nonetheless, if you are trying to forecast inflation, disruption of a major choke point for global commerce — the Red Sea is how ships get to and from the Suez Canal — isn’t what you want to see.
Since there’s no reason to expect these more diffuse problems to return, the inflation impact of the conflict with the Houthis and its effect on Red Sea shipping will be limited.
But anyone citing that number as evidence of stubborn inflation is deeply misinformed.
Indeed, if he or she is in the business of giving financial advice, harping on 3.9 percent amounts to professional malpractice.
Persons:
I’ve, they’ve
Organizations:
Consumer
Locations:
Suez, Los Angeles