Inflation held steady and mirrored analysts’ expectations in February, Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released Wednesday show.
The month’s CPI results were largely in line with analysts’ expectations. February’s CPI rose a seasonally-adjusted 0.3% from January and an unadjusted 2.4% from 12 months earlier. Meanwhile, the “core” CPI, which excludes the volatile food and energy sectors, increased 0.2% over the month and 2.5% from February 2025. The year-over-year increase was the smallest in five years.
While February’s monthly CPI rise was slightly higher than January’s 0.2% increase from December, its core increase was cooler than the previous month’s 0.3% increase.
Compared to year-ago, both the all-items CPI and the core CPI increases were unchanged from January.
The index for shelter rose 0.2% in February, just as it did in January, and was the largest factor in the all-items monthly increase. Compared to year-ago, the shelter index was up 3.0%. The food index increased 0.4% over the month as did the food at home index, while the food away from home index rose 0.3 percent. The 12-month increase in food prices was 2.4%.
The index for energy increased 0.6% in February after falling 1.5% in January. Over the last year, energy prices have risen 0.5%. Gasoline prices rose 0.8% for the month but were down 5.6% from a year earlier.
New car and truck prices were unchanged from January and up 0.5% from year-ago. The price of used vehicles fell 0.4% in February, coming in 3.2% lower than a year earlier. The cost of motor vehicle insurance also fell in February, declining 0.3%, but remained up 0.2% from February of 2025.
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