ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: April 13-17

The unresolved Middle East conflict will remain center stage this week. It is having an immediate impact on energy prices in the United States. The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will push prices up again at the start of the week. The impact on the US inflation pipeline remains the dominant macroeconomic theme, ahead of Tuesday's March PPI release.

A relatively quiet week on the economic data front means attention will also fall heavily on the Talking Fed Heads, including Barr, Barkin, Collins, Goolsbee, Bowman, Williams, and Waller, as the blackout period for public speaking approaches. ECB President Lagarde speaks on Tuesday and BoE Governor Bailey on Wednesday, adding an international dimension to the central bank narrative.