Inflation data for July takes center stage in the week ahead, as second-quarter earnings season winds down. Another factor that could influence the market action: updates on the Iran war. Though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said early last week that a deal may be coming, that news never materialized:
Now, let's preview the big economic reports of the week and the lone Club earnings release from Cardinal Health:
1. Inflation data
The consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI) reports for July are due out Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The CPI represents what consumers pay and is therefore a higher priority for the Federal Reserve:
The PPI measures the prices that producers receive for their goods. As a result, whereas the CPI is considered a lagging indicator, the PPI is considered a leading indicator:
Another important factor that may influence inflation is the AI data center buildout:
2. Earnings
The only Club name reporting this week is Cardinal Health, which is hovering within 1.5% of its all-time high. Cardinal is a behind-the-scenes healthcare giant, distributing drugs and medical supplies to hospitals and pharmacies:
This week we are looking forward to Cardinal's earnings report, which may influence the market reaction:
