Absolutely winning big!

Last night, the U.S. Department of Labor released the December CPI data: year-on-year inflation stood at 2.7%. Recall that November’s data—distorted by the federal government shutdown—was technically ‘patched up.’ Those in the know understand well enough: under the Trump administration, adjustments were almost certainly made to paint a more favorable picture, so few took that figure seriously. December’s data, however, delivered a clear message: inflation is not a major concern—providing timely political cover for Trump’s recent moves and preserving the fundamental conditions for potential rate cuts. Here’s the twist: most CPI components actually rose: Groceries, dining out, housing, transportation services, and healthcare—all categories tightly linked to household spending—were all up. But here’s the key: gasoline prices fell—and the decline was large enough to fully offset increases elsewhere. In short, gasoline alone held down the overall CPI. Trump represents traditional industries; U.S. oil giants are his staunchest supporters, and he enjoys solid relations with Saudi Arabia—and has recently ‘sorted out’ Venezuela too. This gives him enormous leverage over global oil prices going forward: he can suppress inflation by pushing oil prices down—or support U.S. shale producers by letting them rise. Honestly, early in his first term, Trump struggled with nearly everything—but ever since he stopped provoking us, he’s been on a winning streak. It really feels like he’s finally found his groove. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, market expectations now stand at: Two rate cuts this year—25 basis points each—with the first in June and the second in Q4. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell steps down in May. Markets are now quietly betting Trump may pressure Powell to cut rates *before* his departure—not only to assert his authority (“I’m the one calling the shots”) but also to set the tone for his successor. After all, under Trump, economic data serves the narrative—and the Federal Reserve must make way for MAGA. All in all, Trump’s recent maneuvers are broadly bullish for most asset classes. Remember how I said, before he took office, that 2017–2020 marked our own small bull market? — Rongchang Biotechnology recently announced positive news: U.S. pharmaceutical giant AbbVie paid an upfront $650 million—and up to $5.6 billion total—to acquire overseas rights to one of its innovative oncology drug pipelines. This is already the umpteenth such deal this year. I’ve discussed this several times before: the innovative pharmaceutical sector is highly likely to enter a multi-year bull run, driven by three key catalysts: 1. China’s ‘demographic dividend’ is gradually transforming into an ‘engineer dividend’: domestic universities graduate roughly 600,000 engineers annually—supplying world-class, highly efficient, and cost-effective R&D talent. 2. China’s National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) is clearly supporting innovative drugs—approval rates are high, and price negotiations relatively moderate. 3. The domestic innovative pharma sector remains small in scale, offering ample room for growth.

Consumers are cutting spending; Amazon Fresh joins the price-cutting wave.

This week, Amazon Fresh joined retailers across the U.S. in slashing prices. Amazon Fresh—the online grocery delivery service—is discounting thousands of grocery items to attract price-sensitive shoppers and encourage larger basket sizes. A photo taken on May 2, 2024, shows an Amazon Fresh grocery store in Seattle, Washington. In addition to its online platform, Amazon Fresh operates several brick-and-mortar stores. Shoppers across the U.S. can now see approximately 4,000 items discounted—both in-store and online—with discounts reaching up to 30%. Even more enticing: the promoted items rotate weekly. Over the past few years, surging U.S. inflation has pushed consumer prices steadily upward, placing intense pressure on retailers. This year especially, American households no longer shop as freely as before. Soaring prices have forced consumers to make stark trade-offs between ‘needs’ and ‘wants.’ Major retailers—including Target and Walmart—are cutting prices across both physical stores and e-commerce platforms, aiming to lure customers back with discounts on essentials like food, apparel, home décor, crafts, and hobby-related goods. Sarah Wyeth, Managing Director, Retail & Consumer Ratings at S&P Global Ratings, noted: ‘Consumer prices today are 20% to 30% higher than they were three years ago—but incomes haven’t kept pace. As a result, shoppers have curbed spending throughout the past year.’

Aldi cuts U.S. grocery prices for fall season amid inflation, competition pressure

Sep 23, 2026

Aldi announced price reductions on U.S. grocery items including produce like grapes and apples starting September 23, projecting $86 million in savings for shoppers amidst ongoing inflation and retail competition.

reuters

2026-09-23

Aldi cuts U.S. grocery prices for fall season amid inflation, competition pressure

Aldi cuts U.S. grocery prices for fall season amid inflation, competition pressure

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