Economists expect the year-on-year CPI figure to drop from 7.7% in October to 7.3% last month. The pace of CPI growth hit a four decade high of 9.1% in June, and bond bulls will be hoping that the decline since then can continue, allowing the Fed to ease the speed of its interest rate hikes.

Markets are pricing in a 74.7% probability that the Fed will raise interest rates by another 50 basis points to a range of 4.25% to 4.50% after its meeting on December 14th, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The last four rate hikes have been 75 basis points each.

The central bank is expected to take its Fed funds rate target to 4.95% by May 2023, according to 30-day Fed Funds futures, and only start easing very slightly by the end of that year.

Two other important central banks have policy meetings this week, too. The European Central Bank and Bank of England are both expected to raise rates by 50 basis points on Thursday, to 2.5% and 3.5% respectively. Benchmark 10-year German bund yields
TMBMKDE-10Y,
1.898%
were down 1.8 basis points to 1.915% and equivalent duration gilts
TMBMKGB-10Y,
3.104%
were off 5.2 basis points to 3.131%.

U.S. economic updates set for release on Monday include the New York Fed 1- and 5-year inflation expectations for November, due at 11 a.m.. The federal budget for November will be published at 2 p.m., all times Eastern.

What are analysts saying

“The fragility of recent rebounds was highlighted as fresh risk-off sentiment emerged ahead of an inflation print this week, followed by the latest Federal Reserve decision on interest rates. The two announcements are intertwined, with any prolonged heat on the inflation number providing the Fed with more ammunition to maintain its hawkish view,” said Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor.

“While the expectation of a 0.5% rise in rates is now nailed on, of equal interest will be the accompanying comments on the Fed’s outlook, which could encompass not only the likely terminal rate but also an indication of how long rates may need to remain elevated. There is an increasing acceptance from investors that next year will see no interest rate reductions at all, with early 2024 being touted as the more likely outcome.”

“In the meantime, overtightening which could lead to a recession remains the key market concern. The inflation number due this week will drive sentiment, and data released on Friday which showed producer prices rising added to concerns that the inflationary beast may not yet have been tamed,” Hunter concluded.