A better-than-expected June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report offered some welcome relief for investors concerned about persistent inflation pressures. But while the headline numbers came in below expectations, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin explain why underlying inflation trends, including higher oil prices, rising costs tied to AI-related investment, and components that feed into the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, suggest the inflation story is far from over.

They also discuss why macroeconomic factors such as inflation, monetary policy, and labor-market conditions remain essential inputs for portfolio decisions, even when investors are looking for more specific investment guidance. The conversation covers the Federal Reserve's outlook, what recent data means for bond investors, small-business sentiment and hiring plans, growing concerns about inflation among business owners, and the economic indicators they'll be watching in the weeks ahead.

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