Economic Overview - Inflation unexpectedly declined in March for the first time in nearly five years, with the consumer price index (CPI) decreasing by 0.1% sequentially after a 0.2% increase in February, surpassing the consensus estimate of a 0.2% rise [3][4] - Year-over-year, CPI rose 2.4% in March, down from 2.8% in February, while core CPI increased by 0.1% sequentially, marking the smallest rise since June 2024 [4][7] - The decline in inflation was attributed to cheaper fuel and motor vehicles, with gasoline prices dropping by 6.3%, although food prices rose by 0.45% in March [4] Market Reaction - Following President Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on tariffs, Wall Street experienced significant gains, with all three major indexes hitting record single-day increases [5][6] - The temporary halt in tariffs provided relief to investors after a previous loss of $6.4 trillion in four trading sessions due to the imposition of tariffs [6] Investment Opportunities - Given the positive market sentiment, investing in consumer discretionary stocks is recommended, with four highlighted stocks: American Outdoor Brands, Carnival Corporation, GameStop, and Netflix [2] - American Outdoor Brands (AOUT) has an expected earnings growth rate of 93.8% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 2 [9] - Carnival Corporation (CCL) is the largest cruise operator globally, with an expected earnings growth rate of 31% for the current year and a Zacks Rank of 2 [10] - GameStop (GME), the largest video game retailer, has an expected earnings growth rate of over 100% for next year, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 1 [12] - Netflix (NFLX), a pioneer in streaming, has an expected earnings growth rate of 24.1% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 2 [14]
4 Stocks to Grab Now as Inflation Falls for First Time in Five Years