Headline Inflation Could Keep Accelerating, Wilding Says

"If we just look at retail gasoline prices, you know, they're already up 20%... We think headline inflation could accelerate by a percentage point as a result of this." Rising retail gasoline prices directly translate to higher margins and revenues for energy producers and refiners. As headline inflation accelerates specifically due to this energy shock, large-cap energy equities will capture the upside of the commodity price surge while acting as an inflation hedge. LONG energy sector equities to directly play the upward shock in retail gasoline and headline inflation. The energy shock proves to be highly transient, or central banks overreact with rate hikes that trigger a severe recession, destroying global oil demand.

"Real incomes will decelerate by a percentage point... the savings rate has actually dropped quite a bit. We've seen labor incomes that have fallen... we're kind of in a weaker position in terms of the consumer." Gasoline is an inelastic expense. When gas prices rise while real incomes fall and savings are depleted, consumers are forced to cut spending on non-essential items. Consumer discretionary stocks and high-end retail brands will suffer immediate revenue hits as household budgets are reallocated to basic necessities. SHORT consumer discretionary stocks as the consumer is squeezed by falling real incomes and a lack of savings to smooth over the inflation shock. The labor market unexpectedly tightens causing wages to outpace inflation, or energy prices collapse quickly, restoring consumer purchasing power and discretionary spending.