Last week, America approached self-restraint the way Joey Chestnut approaches a hot dog. Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve was one of the judges. Stronger-than-expected retail sales, low jobless claims, and a renewed uptick in import prices reinforced the case for the Fed’s 25-basis-point rate increase, even as manufacturing activity softened.
Last week, America was told inflation is better. Also worse. Also, by Friday, core consumer prices came in hot and consumer sentiment fell off a cliff—which is a lot to hand somebody just days before they decide on interest rates.