US DATA: New Atlanta Fed monthly business inflation survey (of 170
firms in their District) shows inflation expectations for the coming yr
at 1.8% vs 1.9% in Dec survey. Firms were asked to est year-ahead unit
costs, and the survey was taken Jan 16-20. Firms still note “an
environment of below normal sales and depressed margins, although both
have been slowly improving since October. Looking forward, firms
anticipate labor costs will put little or only moderate upward pressure
on prices in the year ahead.”