Markets Await Critical November Inflation Data After Government Shutdown

Washington, Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Markets are bracing for today’s release of the November Consumer Price Index (CPI), the first significant economic gauge since the 43-day government shutdown ended. While the consensus forecast anticipates a 3.1% annual inflation rate, the critical takeaway is the unprecedented lack of context: the cancellation of October’s data has created a historic gap, meaning this will not be a “clean” reading. As the Federal Reserve looks toward 2026, this fragmented dataset must serve as the primary compass for future interest rate decisions despite potential distortions from the political gridlock.