The Global Downside Inflation Surprise

Bob Elliott · Nonconsensus · July 13, 2026 at 10:18  | Read on Substack ↗
Summary
The article argues that the oil price surge from the Iran war may not feed through to broader inflation as much as the comparable 2022 oil shock did, suggesting a downside surprise to inflation. This implies that central banks might face less pressure to tighten further, which could be supportive for risk assets and bonds.
  • The Iran war this year has caused significant oil and gas price increases, analogous to the 2022 oil shock.
  • The key macro question is whether these energy price rises will propagate to the rest of the economy or remain contained.
  • The article’s title positions the outcome as a 'downside inflation surprise,' implying the pass-through will be weaker than in 2022.
Length 244 chars
Category finance
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