UK inflation report outlook: GBP/USD may stumble on another CPI slide

Falling prices are good news for consumers – especially as wage growth is dropping – but may send sterling lower. 

Low UK inflation expectations 

Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) has missed expectations in the past two months by standing at 1.7% annual. Economists seem to have adapted their expectations and forecast a further deceleration to 1.6% in October's inflation report. 

Low expectations may lead to an upside surprise – but these downbeat projections are justified. The pound's exchange rate jumped in October as Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck a new Brexit deal with the EU. A higher sterling value lowers the prices of imported goods. Moreover, flash estimates for euro-zone CPI have also shown a drop – and the UK is still tied closely to the bloc. 

The Bank of England has also downgraded its inflation forecasts in its latest quarterly Monetary Policy Report, with two members already desiring to cut interest rates. Slower UK growth has lowered price pressures. 

Expectations may even be too optimistic once again – a slowdown to 1.4% or 1.5% cannot be ruled out. Even an "as expected" outcome would send CPI to the lowest levels since early 2017. Back then, annual inflation was picking up after the vote to leave the EU sent the pound plummeting. 

GBP/USD bearish bias

Britain's inflation figures are released after two other significant publications. The labor market report showed the jobless rate to 3.8% – but a drop of 52,000 in total employed. And as mentioned earlier, wage growth has slowed down from 3.8% to 3.6% yearly. 

The second release this week has also fallen short of expectations. UK Gross Domestic Product has risen by 0.3% in the third quarter, but yearly expansion decelerated to 1%. These downbeat figures have weighed on the pound, and political developments have also turned adverse for sterling.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party, initially sent GBP/USD higher by withdrawing candidates from competing against incumbent Conservative MPs. However, the right-wing outfit will refrain from abandoning marginal seats that Tories need to win for a majority – pushing cable lower. 

Technically, GBP/USD has been rejected at the confluence of the 50 and 100 Simple Moving Averages on the four-hour chart and suffers from downside momentum.

Overall, the bias is bearish. 

Three inflation and GBP/USD scenarios

1) As expected: If inflation slows down to 1.6% as the economic calendar shows, sterling has room to retreat. The bearish bias stemming from weak figures early this week, the perceived lower chances of a Conservative majority, and the frail inflation figure in absolute terms may all weigh. This is the base-case scenario.

2) Worse than expected: A downbeat headline CPI figure of 1.5% or lower may already send the pound significantly lower. Such a scenario cannot be ruled out.  Moreover, the BOE targets a CPI level of 2%, with a range of 1-3%. A fall toward the bottom of the range raises the chances of a cut – exacerbating the fall.

3) Better than estimated: A repeat of 1.7% may help GBP/USD stabilize, and a pickup in inflation could already send it higher. While that would be detrimental for consumers, it would lower the chances of a rate cut. This scenario is highly unlikely. 

Conclusion

UK inflation is set to decelerate in October, and these projections look fully justified. The downbeat figures and worsening political prospects create a bearish bias that may exacerbate the pound's falls. A considerable beat may be needed to boost sterling. 

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