A rare double hit of key economic data and continued economic fallout from week two of the Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict are taking the spotlight this week. Here’s what’s happening …
- Q4 earnings season may be winding down, but there are still more than 475 companies reporting this week. Numbers are due today from Oracle, Volkswagen, Franco-Nevada, and Chinese EV-maker Nio, followed Wednesday by KB Financial, The Campbell’s Company, and UiPath. Thursday earnings are expected from Adobe, Dollar General, Ulta Beauty, Lennar Corporation, Dick’s Sporting Goods, as well as delayed numbers from Alibaba, followed by another relatively light Friday. *
- The first of two key inflation gauges hits Wednesday, with the release of the CPI (Consumer Price Index) for February. Economists expect the number to hold steady from its January reading of 2.4%. On Friday, the second and more crucial report (at least for the Fed) lands, the PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) index for January (PCE data are a couple of weeks late because of the fall government shutdown.) Core PCE, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, is expected to remain at December’s 2.9%, still stubbornly above its 2% target. The two indexes track inflation in different ways. The CPI reflects the prices households actually pay for goods and services, based on survey data. The PCE, on the other hand, captures the cost of all goods and services households consume, even those paid for on their behalf, like healthcare. **
- Global airfare prices are surging as the war in Iran pushes crude oil above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022. The spike in fuel costs, combined with heavy travel demand and widespread disruptions across the Middle East and Asia, has driven ticket prices on some long‑haul routes up several hundred percent. Flights between major hubs such as Seoul, Singapore, London, and New York have seen some of the steepest increases, with certain routes jumping from a few hundred dollars to several thousand in a matter of days. Analysts warn that if the conflict continues to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz and broader oil markets, crude prices could climb even higher, further pressuring airlines. ***
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