On track with expectations, inflation cooled slightly in February.
The latest consumer price index (CPI) shows prices rising 0.4 percent month-over-month in February, down from 0.5 percent in January, while the annual inflation is up 6 percent, down from 6.4 percent.
Shelter accounted for 70 percent of the increase, rising 0.8 percent. The jump came despite efforts by the Federal Reserve to tamp down on home prices by rapidly raising interest rates.
Food prices, meanwhile, decelerated from 0.5 percent to 0.4 percent, and energy prices declined 0.6 percent after rising 2 percent in January. The drop in energy prices was mostly powered by a 7.9 percent drop in fuel oil prices.
Used car prices also fell a whopping 2.8 percent. Once one of the main drivers of inflation, the category is now helping bring down the index.
It's a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs due to U.S.'s new tariffs, while others have redirected money to artificial intelligence investments. Workers in the public sector have also been hit hard. Federal jobs were cut by the thousands earlier this year. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown has now dragged on for more than a month.
Nvidia smashes earnings with record-breaking revenue and soaring Blackwell demand as shares slip this morning, Barron’s senior writer Adam Levine unpacks it all
Jeff Wagoner, CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group, discusses the company’s coral preservation initiatives and sustainable practices at their hotels and resorts.
Dena Jalbert, Head of M&A at Align Advisory, discusses the state of mergers and acquisitions in 2025 and beyond, highlighting key trends and opportunities.
