US inflation slows down during first month of Trump’s tenure
A shopper holds a black shopping basket while browsing the refrigerated dairy section of a grocery store. (Adobe Stock Photo)
U.S. inflation eases in February during the first full month of President Donald Trump’s second term, declining to 2.8% from the previous 3% and beating market expectations, the Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday.
Between January and February, the CPI picked up 0.2%, Labor Department data showed, also a cooldown from January’s 0.5% figure.
Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, the index was up 3.1% from a year prior, also an improvement from before.
While easing inflation would be a sign of relief for policymakers, the latest reading is the lowest in just four months ─signaling a longer road ahead to bringing price increases back to officials’ 2% target.
The world’s biggest economy is also grappling with fears of a downturn ─and near-term inflation─ sparked by Trump’s expanding slate of tariffs.
On Wednesday, Trump’s latest salvo of 25% levies on steel and aluminum imports kicked in, sparking vows of firm responses from key US trading partners.
