How many of you have heard me say that commodities are inherently volatile?
Clearly, from this chart, you can see that after the oil rally in the mid-1970s, the CPI went from nearly 9% in 1974 down to 2% in 1976. 
Sugar, my favorite barometer of inflation, ran to $.66 a pound in 1974 and then down to around $.08 cents a pound in 1976. Huge.
As sugar peaked, inflation as measured by CPI, had a stupendous drop within 2 years.
Similarly, the CPI peaked in June 2022 at around 9%, and here we are with CPI currently at 3.6%.
If the timeline matches, we could see inflation decline further into 2024.
However, everything moves a lot faster now.
So, let’s assume that history rhymes rather than repeats.
If that is the case, inflation is due for another run, even if oil calms down from current levels.
After the trough in inflation in 1976, it took four years for the next peak to hit. In 1980, CPI reached nearly 15%.
Sugar ran from $.08 back up to around $.45 a pound by 1980.
At present, if we reduce the timeframes, after 1.5 years of declining inflation, maybe we see another 2-3 years of climbing inflation.
Will Inflation Peak in 2024-2025?
Maybe a bit frightening to worry about much higher inflation. Nonetheless, we look for opportunities to make money.
Last week we wrote about gold miners.
Today, September 18th, VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) cleared the 50-DMA for a second consecutive time and went into a confirmed recuperation phase.
And that’s before the FED meeting.
We also mentioned that miners often lead the precious metals markets.
And all heading higher means more inflation concerns.
There are 3 technical indicators to note:
1. Calendar Ranges: GDX held the July 6-month calendar range low (red line). We consider that a reversal.
There is still quite a distance to the July 6-month calendar range high (green line).
2. Phases: GDX has 2 closes over the 50-DMA, which has a slightly negative slope. However, the phase has improved to Recuperation.
Additionally, Real Motion (momentum) shows some resistance at the 50-DMA (blue line). Hence, we need more momentum.
3. Leadership: GDX now convincingly outperforms the SPY. That, too, however, needs a boost over the dotted Bollinger Band resistance.
Keep your eyes on the August 30th high at 30.00.
ETF Summary
- S&P 500 (SPY) 440 support 458 resistance
- Russell 2000 (IWM) 185 pivotal 180 support
- Dow (DIA) 347 pivotal
- Nasdaq (QQQ) 363 support and over 375 looks better
- Regional banks (KRE) 44 pivotal
- Semiconductors (SMH) 150 pivotal
- Transportation (IYT) Needs to get back over 247 to look healthier
- Biotechnology (IBB) Compression between 124-130
- Retail (XRT) Weak but noisy unless this breaks down under 57, the 80-month moving average.
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This post is for education only as trading comes with risk.