Inflation rose again in February, keeping the Federal Reserve on course to wait at least until the summer before starting to lower interest rates.
The consumer price index, a broad measure of goods and services costs, increased 0.4% for the month and 3.2% from a year ago, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The monthly gain was in line with expectations, but the annual rate was slightly ahead of the 3.1% forecast from the Dow Jones consensus.
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core CPI increased 0.4% on the month and was up 3.8% on the year. Both were one-tenth of a percentage point higher than forecast.
While the 12-month pace is off the inflation peak in mid-2022, it remains well above the Fed’s 2% goal as the central bank approaches its two-day policy meeting in a week.
A 2.3% increase in energy costs helped boost the headline inflation number. Food costs were flat on the month, while shelter rose another 0.4%.
The BLS reported that the increases in energy and shelter amounted to more than 60% of the total gain.
Markets showed little initial reaction after the news broke, with futures tied to major stock averages as well as Treasury yields slightly higher.