U.S. June inflation is expected to moderate, but with the Middle East conflict
unresolved this is unlikely to ease household pressure or rule out another
Federal Reserve rate increase this year. The anticipated slowdown in CPI largely
reflects gasoline retreating from multi-year highs, but a U.S.-Iran ceasefire
collapsed last week and pump prices have climbed again; AAA says the national
average for regular gasoline rose to $3.87/gal on Monday. Boston College
economist Brian Bethune says consumer pain has only marginally eased and
households remain under heavy strain. KPMG chief economist SWONK warns overall
prices continue to accumulate and isolated supermarket discounts will do little
to lower total household spending while other cost pressures persist.