Why Economists Are Urging Caution About November’s Inflation Report

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

Daily News, News

4 • 4K Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

P.M. Edition for Dec. 18. Inflation eased to 2.7% in November, lower than economists expected. WSJ’s Chao Deng explains why they are taking the report with a grain of salt. President Trump’s media company and a fusion energy company announced a merger valued at $6 billion. Read more about the Trump family’s growing business empire. And WSJ security reporter Benoit Faucon discusses what the attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach reveals about the threat posed by ISIS. Sabrina Siddiqui hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	If you're early in your career and looking for insight, inspiration, and honest advice, listen to the Capital Ideas podcast.
0:11.1	Hear from Capital Group professionals about leaning into the differences that make you unique, making decisions that last, and what it means to lead with purpose.
0:20.4	The Capital Ideas Podcast, from Capital Group, available wherever you listen.
0:25.7	Published by Capital Client Group, Inc.
0:31.4	President Trump's media company struck a $6 billion deal to merge with a fusion power company.
0:40.1	Plus, November inflation dropped to 2.7%.
0:44.0	But why are economists taking the report with a grain of salt?
0:47.6	Even before this report came out, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell was warning that there could be potential distortions and really playing
0:55.7	down the data.
0:57.4	And the Kennedy Center's board voted to rename it as the Trump Kennedy Center.
1:03.2	It's Thursday, December 18th.
1:05.0	I'm Sabrina Siddiqui for the Wall Street Journal, sitting in for Alex Oslo.
1:08.9	This is the PM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories that move
1:13.3	the world today.
1:16.1	The Bureau of Labor Statistics said today that inflation fell to 2.7% in November, lower than
1:23.0	economists expected.
1:24.6	It was also down from 3% in September, and there was no October report because of the
1:29.7	government shutdown. Economists have warned that the shutdown caused issues with data collection
1:35.3	for the November report that may have distorted those numbers. Chow Dang, a Wall Street
1:40.3	Journal reporter, covering the U.S. economy joins us now to discuss.
1:50.3	Chao, you write that economists feel the inflation rate might be understated in this report.
1:51.4	Why is that?
	...

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