Generic Hero BannerGeneric Hero Banner
Latest Market News

US inflation up to 2.4pc in May, energy down

  • Spanish Market: Metals
  • 11/06/25

US inflation ticked up to an annualized 2.4pc in May as core inflation remained unchanged, a sign US president Donald Trump's shifting tariff policies have yet to meaningfully impact prices.

The consumer price index rose from an annual 2.3pc in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Analysts surveyed by Trading Economics had forecast a gain of 2.5pc.

Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose by 2.8pc over the 12-month period, unchanged from the prior month. The energy index contracted by 3.5pc for the 12 months compared with a 3.7pc contraction through April.

The CME's FedWatch tool shows 99.9pc probability the Federal Reserve will hold its target rate unchanged at 4.25-4.5pc at its meeting next week, compared with 97.3pc Tuesday, and as much as a 67pc chance of a likely cut in September. The Fed has said it will monitor the evolving impacts of Trump's tariff, fiscal and other policies on prices and the broader economy before resuming its course of rate cuts, on pause since December.

The food index rose by 2.9pc over the past year, quickening from 2.8pc in the 12 months through April.

Services less energy services, viewed as a core services measure, rose by 3.6pc in the 12 months through May, unchanged from April.

Gasoline fell by 12pc over the 12-month period through May while piped gas services rose by 15.3pc.

Shelter rose by an annual 3.9pc. New vehicles rose by an annual 0.4pc.

On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.1pc in May following a 0.2pc gain in April and a 0.1pc contraction in March. Shelter rose by 0.3pc for the month, leading the overall monthly gain.


Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

14/07/25

CATL, BHP team up to spur mining electrification

CATL, BHP team up to spur mining electrification

Beijing, 14 July (Argus) — China's largest battery manufacturer CATL has signed a non-binding deal with Australian diversified mining group BHP to develop battery solutions for heavy equipment and railway locomotives used in mining activity. The two firms aim to collaborate in areas such as the electrification of mining equipment, construction of fast-charging infrastructure, and energy storage and battery recycling. They plan to accelerate the electrification of BHP's mining operations and to create a replicable "green transformation model" for the global mining industry, CATL said on 14 July. Global demand for critical minerals such as lithium and nickel has been increasing with the rise in renewable energy technologies. This in turn has spurred the expansion of the mining industry, which is energy-intensive and emissions-intensive, said CATL. BHP aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2050. CATL's total battery capacity is projected to reach 700-1,000 GWh/yr in 2025, which would make it the world's first TWh-level battery manufacturer, according to market participants. The firm has been accelerating expansions outside China in recent years, with projects in Germany, Hungary, Spain, and Indonesia. CATL has been trying to expand its presence in the conventional energy and mining sectors. It is building a 40 GWh/yr factory in Dongying, which is the largest oil refining city in China, with the aim of helping Dongying evolve into a zero-carbon city. China's sales of new energy trucks have increased in 2025 , mainly on the back of government subsidies, overtaking LNG trucks in displacing diesel vehicles. The country's sales of new energy trucks in January-June reached about 72,000 units, more than 2½ times year-earlier levels. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Section 232 imports avoid planned US-Canada tariff


11/07/25
11/07/25

Section 232 imports avoid planned US-Canada tariff

Houston, 11 July (Argus) — The newly announced plans for a 35pc tax on Canadian imports to the US will not apply to goods already subject to Section 232 tariffs, according to a White House official. Steel and aluminum imports have been subject to 50pc Section 232 tariffs since 4 June, and copper and its derivatives will be subject to a 50pc tariff beginning 1 August. The official expects imports from Canada currently tariffed at a rate of 25pc to increase to 35pc, excluding US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement-compliant goods, energy and potash, but said no final decision by President Donald Trump had been made. By Jenna Baer Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil gov must boost EV demand: Li miners


11/07/25
11/07/25

Brazil gov must boost EV demand: Li miners

Sao Paulo, 11 July (Argus) — At least four suppliers in the Brazilian spodumene market voiced interest in federal policies to boost demand for electric vehicles (EVs) to create a consolidated end-to-end battery supply chain in Brazil, the companies said at a conference in Minas Gerais. In an initiative led by Companhia Brasileira de Litio (CBL), executives for AMG Lithium, Lithium Ionic and PLS all pleaded for the Brazilian federal government to implement policies to boost EV demand — which would support the Brazilian spodumene market — CBL's chief executive Vinicius Alvarenga said. CBL owns the only lithium carbonate refinery in Brazil and it believes the country has the potential to have an end-to-end battery supply chain. Currently, Chinese refineries receive 99pc of all lithium chemicals produced in Brazil. "The only thing stopping Brazilian companies to make battery cells is the lack of demand from the regional market," Alvarenga said. "We need to pressure the government to incentivize the installation of lithium-based energy storage systems and to give more benefits to EV buyers." Alvarenga mentioned WEG — a multidisciplinary technology company — and Moura, the largest battery manufacturer in Latin America, as firms well suited for the job. "Brazil can be one of the world's top players in the energy transition landscape," said Leandro Gobbo, vice-president for Brazilian operations at PLS. "We have world class ore, the expertise and the technology to do so — we only lack government incentives." At the bottom of the cost curve, Brazil has one of the cheapest hard-rock lithium operations in the world, rivaling China and beating Australia and many African producers. Although China holds its place as the home to the cheapest hard-rock lithium projects in the world, Brazilian miners are also operating at a profit despite the low price environment, mainly because of cheap labor. Around half of the world's hard-rock lithium miners are currently operating at a loss. All three commercially producing spodumene companies in Brazil — Sigma Lithium, CBL and AMG — are sticking to their investment guidance and expansion plans despite falling prices. "There is an opportunity here at this low-price environment," said Blake Hylands, chief executive of Lithium Ionic, owner one of the largest undeveloped spodumene sites in Brazil. "We need to move projects forward at this time so Brazil can progress in the global stage." The average labor costs in Brazil are significantly lower than in places like Australia, which is also dealing with a workforce shortage in mining, according to Gobbo, and where employee wages have pushed most spodumene operations to operate at a loss as prices bottom. "Brazil will never beat China in capital costs and internal demand," Alvarenga said. "But despite taking a hit at those two, Brazil is the best place in the world to produce spodumene." Brazil has a combination of benefits that are not seen elsewhere, such as low royalties, a specialized workforce, solid internal and external logistics, market transparency, legal stability, high ESG and human rights standards, and the cheapest electrical energy in the world, Alvarenga said, which is mostly renewable. "If we look at other countries with cheap [spodumene] production, we don't see that," said Ligia Pinto, vice-president of external affairs at Sigma Lithium, Brazil's top lithium concentrate producer. "Our low costs do not harm human rights." The so-called Lithium Valley — a spodumene rich region in Southeast Brazil — has a production capacity of 320,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr of lithium concentrate between CBL and Sigma Lithium, the country's top producer. AMG Lithium, which operates further south, bumps up Brazil's total current capacity to 410,000t/yr. "This is a country that we can trust," Hylands said. "We are taking longer than China, but that's okay, because everyone takes longer than China." By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Canadian ferrous scrap dodges lastest US tariff threat


11/07/25
11/07/25

Canadian ferrous scrap dodges lastest US tariff threat

Pittsburgh, 11 July (Argus) — Canadian goods compliant with the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), which include ferrous scrap metal, will maintain their exemption status from proposed new US import tariffs on the country, according to a White House official. President Donald Trump announced a 35pc tariff on all imports from Canada effective 1 August in a letter to Canadian prime minister Mark Carney yesterday . A White House official told Argus exemptions currently covered by the USMCA will remain in place. But until the new tariff rate officially goes into effect uncertainty will likely remain a source of concern for market participants. Canada is a major shipper of ferrous scrap metal to the US, particularly shred and #1 busheling. In 2024, the US imported an average of 230,000 metric tonnes (t)/m of ferrous scrap. US imports of Canadian ferrous scrap totaled 1mn t through May, down by 10pc from the prior year. By Brad MacAulay and Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump threatens 35pc tariff on Canada by 1 August


11/07/25
11/07/25

Trump threatens 35pc tariff on Canada by 1 August

Houston, 10 July (Argus) — The US will impose a 35pc tariff on all imports from Canada effective on 1 August, President Donald Trump said in a letter to Canadian prime minister Mark Carney. The 10 July letter that Trump posted on social media late Thursday noted that Canada previously planned retaliatory tariffs in response to the US' first tariff threats in the spring. He repeated his earliest justification for the tariffs - the illegal smuggling of fentanyl into the US from Canada - and said he would consider "an adjustment" to the tariffs if Canada worked with him to stop that flow. The 35pc tariff would be separate from tariffs set for specific sectors, which include a 50pc tariff on copper imports . It is not clear if any imports currently covered by the US-Mexico- Canada trade agreement (USMCA) would be affected by the new tariff threats. The Trump administration since 5 April has been charging a 10pc extra "Liberation Day" tariff on most imports — energy commodities and critical minerals are exceptions — from nearly every foreign trade partner. Trump on 9 April imposed even higher tariffs on key trading partners, only to delay them the same day until 9 July. On 7 July, Trump signed an executive order further delaying the implementation of higher rates until 12:01am ET (04:01 GMT) on 1 August. Earlier this week he threatened 50pc tariffs against Brazil for its ongoing criminal prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more