15.02.201804:58 Forex Analysis & Reviews: Good data on inflation led to the growth of the US dollar

The euro slumped in relation to the US dollar in the morning, before the release of important data on inflation in the US. The main reason for the pressure on the euro could be data on the slowdown in economic activity in Germany at the end of last year.

According to the report, Germany's GDP in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with the previous quarter, increased by 0.6%. In annual terms, growth was 2.3%. These data fully coincided with the forecast of economists.

As noted in the statistics agency, the good growth rates are maintained due to the high external demand for premium goods. The acceleration of exports was also indicated.

Inflation in Germany slowed at the beginning of this year, which is an alarming call for the ECB. According to the data, the consumer price index fell by 0.7% in January of this year compared with December 2017, which fully coincided with the forecasts of economists. Core inflation fell by 1.0%.

Italy's GDP showed the fastest growth in the last seven years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics Istat, Italy's economy in 2017 grew by 1.6% compared with 2016.

As for the growth of the eurozone's GDP, the growth in the 4th quarter compared to the 3rd quarter was 0.6%, and compared to the same period in 2016, GDP increased by 2.7%. These data also fully coincided with the forecasts of economists.

The good economic indicators of the Eurozone at the end of 2017 have repeatedly led the European Central Bank to pay attention to the current situation in monetary policy, as well as the volume of the bond repurchase program, the reduction of which could lead to further euro growth in the medium term.

Data on the growth of inflation in the second half of Wednesday increased demand for the US dollar, which managed to regain even more positions lost at the beginning of the week against the euro and the British pound.

According to the report, the consumer price index in the US in January 2018 increased by 0.5%, exceeding the forecast of economists, who expected an increase in inflation of only 0.3%. Compared to the same period in 2017, inflation increased by 2.1%.

The base index, which does not take into account volatile prices, increased by 0.3% in January, with a growth forecast of 0.2%. Compared to the same period in 2017, the index grew by 1.8%.

Given such good performance, the short-term growth of the US dollar against the euro and the pound may continue, as it is possible that a good inflation rate in the US could seriously affect the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates, which could again be hiked this spring.