Stocks fell Wednesday as a hotter-than-expected consumer prices report for April sent the 10-year Treasury yield back above 3%, raising concerns that inflation will remain high as the economy slows. The Nasdaq saw the worst of the selling in early trading, as investors continued to dump tech shares as they have all year.
The S&P 500 slipped 0.5%, the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 46 points, or 0.1%.
April’s consumer price index showed an 8.3% jump, higher than the 8.1% increase expected by economists polled by Dow Jones. The price surge remained near the 40-year high pace of 8.5% seen in March. Core CPI, which does not include food and energy prices, gained 6.2% compared to expectations of 6%. On a monthly basis, headline CPI rose by 0.3% and core rose 0.6%.
“The pace of price increases moderated, but not as much as expected,” said Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride. “Excluding a decline in energy prices – which appears outdated by this point – the increases remain widespread. With the annual rate ticking down from 8.5% to 8.3, it can be tempting to say we’ve seen the peak, but we’ve also been head-faked before as was the case last August.”
Rising prices have been front-of-mind, particularly as the Federal Reserve is hiking interest rates and trimming its balance sheet to address inflation.
Following the release of the data, the 10-year Treasury yield jumped back above the 3% mark.
Some analysts see the data as a sign that the Fed is behind the curve in curbing inflation, which could put pressure on the central bank to act more aggressively in tightening monetary policy.
“Risk assets are under pressure with equity futures red on the assumption this will compel the Fed to extend the 50 bp cadence beyond the June/July meetings already signaled,” said Ian Lyngen, BMO’s head of U.S. rates.
The market reaction to the inflation print is “totally understandable” but as prices continue to rise the U.S. is on the brink of a “cost of living crisis,” Allianz chief economic advisor Mohamed El-Erian told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.”
“That’s when an inflation problem also becomes a growth problem,” he said. “Why? Affordability. The extent to which high prices destroy demand. It’s just a matter of time before we talk about a cost of living crisis.”
The S&P 500 stands about 17% off its high in a pullback this year largely driven by fears of out-of-control inflation causing the Federal Reserve to aggressively tighten monetary policy.
Tech shares came under pressure following the hot inflation report and subsequent jump in yields. Nvidia, Tesla, Amazon all traded in the red in premarket trading as investors continued to dump tech shares as rates rise. Apple and Microsoft were also in the red.
On the earnings front, shares of Coinbase slumped nearly 16% premarket and Toyota dipped 4.4% on the back of earnings. Investors are looking ahead to reports from Walt Disney, Rivian and Beyond Meat after the bell.
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