Trading volatility: UK CPI
There are three potential swing points for sterling in the week ahead: jobs data, retail sales and consumer price inflation.
The CPI data, for December, could be the big one. The question is whether it will show, like we have recently seen in the States, that it’s no longer falling. IGTV’s Jeremy Naylor looks at the potential upside for GBP/USD.
(AI Video Summary)
GBP/USD analysis
Next week, there will be some important information about GBP/USD - how the British pound is doing compared to the US dollar. This information could affect how much the pound is worth and could make trading more exciting. On Tuesday, they will release the unemployment rate for November. This number tells us how many people in the UK were without a job during that month. It's important to know this because it gives us an idea of how strong the UK economy is. If more people are finding jobs, it means the economy is doing well. However, some sectors are struggling to find workers with the right skills. This could cause problems in the future.
December UK CPI to come
Then on Wednesday, there will be information about the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December. This is the most important information of the week. The CPI shows us how much prices have been going up or down in the UK. The Bank of England pays close attention to the CPI because it helps them make decisions about what to do with interest rates. If prices are going up a lot, the Bank of England might raise interest rates to try to bring them down. This could affect the value of the pound.
Retail sales data incoming
Finally, on Friday, we will get more information about how much people are spending in shops. This is important because it tells us how confident consumers are feeling. If people are spending a lot of money, it means they are feeling good about the economy. If they are not spending much, it could be a sign that they are worried about the future.
The most important information to look out for is the CPI data on Wednesday. Inflation in the US has been higher than expected, and some people think this might also be happening in other countries. If the data shows that prices are staying high for longer than expected, it could cause the pound to increase in value against the dollar. This would be good news for traders who have set a target price of 129 for the pound. However, if prices do not decrease as quickly as expected, the pound could struggle to break through a certain level, which is currently at 128.82. Traders need to pay attention to this CPI data because it could have a big impact on how the pound performs against the dollar.
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.
Start trading forex today
Find opportunity on the world’s most-traded – and most-volatile – financial market.
- Trade spreads from just 0.6 points on EUR/USD
- Analyse with clear, fast charts
- Speculate wherever you are with our intuitive mobile apps
See an FX opportunity?
Try a risk-free trade in your demo account, and see whether you’re onto something.
- Log in to your demo
- Take your position
- See whether your hunch pays off
See an FX opportunity?
Don’t miss your chance – upgrade to a live account to take advantage.
- Get spreads from just 0.6 points on popular pairs
- Analyse and deal seamlessly on fast, intuitive charts
- See and react to breaking news in-platform
See an FX opportunity?
Don’t miss your chance. Log in to take your position.
Live prices on most popular markets
- Equities
- Indices
- Forex
- Commodities
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All share prices are delayed by at least 15 minutes.
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.