2025 Market Outlook: CPI Inflation Report & Key Earnings from Walmart, Home Depot, Cisco – What to Expect This Week

Upcoming Highlights: CPI Inflation Data & Earnings Reports from Walmart, Home Depot, Cisco

Essential Insights

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April will reveal whether inflation continues to rise in 2024, drawing close attention from the Federal Reserve and investors alike.
• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, along with other high-ranking Fed officials, will deliver key speeches throughout the week, signaling potential monetary policy directions.
• Retail giants Walmart and Home Depot, alongside tech leader Cisco Systems, will release their earnings reports, providing critical market cues.

Inflation remains a pivotal concern as the Federal Reserve and investors await the CPI report to assess ongoing price pressures in the U.S. economy.

Jerome Powell is set to address an international conference, providing insights on the Fed's stance, while other officials will discuss economic conditions. The Fed emphasizes the need for clear inflation control before considering interest rate reductions.

Market participants will also focus on earnings from Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), Chinese e-commerce leaders JD.com (JD) and Alibaba Group (BABA), as well as tech firms Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Sony Group (SONY).

Monday, May 13

• Remarks by Federal Reserve Vice Chair Phillip Jefferson and Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester
• Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) earnings release

Tuesday, May 14

• NFIB Small Business Optimism (April)
• Producer Price Index (PPI) for April
• Jerome Powell addresses the Netherlands’ Foreign Bankers’ Association
• Earnings reports from Home Depot (HD), Alibaba Group (BABA), and Sony Group (SONY)

Wednesday, May 15

• Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April
• U.S. Retail Sales (April)
• Empire State Manufacturing Survey (May)
• Home Builder Confidence (May)
• Business Inventories (March)
• Cisco Systems (CSCO) earnings report
• Q1 13F filings deadline revealing major investors’ stock holdings

Thursday, May 16

• Initial Jobless Claims (Week ending May 11)
• Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey (May)
• Housing Starts and Building Permits (April)
• Import Price Index and Industrial Production (April)
• Capacity Utilization (April)
• Speeches by Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, and Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester
• Earnings from Walmart (WMT), Applied Materials (AMAT), JD.com (JD), Baidu (BIDU), Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO), and Deere & Company (DE)

Friday, May 17

• U.S. Leading Economic Indicators (April)

CPI Report: Will Inflation’s Path Remain Volatile?

Investors await Wednesday’s CPI report to determine if inflation in 2024 continues its unpredictable trajectory. After months of decline last year, inflation rates have shown resilience, with a 3.5% annual CPI inflation rate recorded in March—the third consecutive month of increase.

The Producer Price Index (PPI) on Tuesday will offer early signals on wholesale price trends that could impact consumer prices soon. The recent inflation uptick is described by Fed officials as “bumpy,” underscoring the necessity to maintain interest rates at elevated levels to manage price stability.

Another high inflation reading could lessen expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in the near term.

Alongside Powell’s key speech in the Netherlands, Vice Chair Jefferson and other Fed Presidents will provide their perspectives on economic conditions and policy outlooks this week.

Corporate Earnings Spotlight: Walmart, Home Depot, Cisco

Corporate earnings this week focus on major retailers and influential tech companies. Walmart is expected to report its Q1 fiscal 2025 results on Thursday, projecting strong sales growth fueled by new business initiatives.

Home Depot, however, has issued a cautious forecast, anticipating potential sales declines due to customers postponing large home projects amid persistently high interest rates.

Cisco’s earnings report will be closely watched following its February guidance downgrade and announcement of a 5% global workforce reduction, highlighting ongoing challenges in the tech sector.

For exclusive news tips or insights, contact ZAMONA reporters at tips@ZAMONA.

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