Bank of America: U.S. inflation expected to rise slightly in December

January 11, following last December's stunning nonfarm payrolls data, investors are now turning their attention to December's CPI data, scheduled for release next Wednesday. Bank of America analysts Sarah House and Aubrey Woessner expect headline inflation to reach a five-month high of 2.9% in December, up from 2.7% in November. Core CPI growth is expected to remain at 3.3% for a fourth straight month, they said in a report. Inflation is “set to stagnate this year as the anti-inflationary favorability from improving supply chains and falling commodity prices recedes, and trade policy could see new headwinds.”