US inflation slows to 6% in February

'Tricky position' for Fed

US inflation rose at a 6% annual pace in February, down from 6.4% in January, marking the eighth straight month of decline from June’s 9.1% peak.

Although inflation eased on an annual basis, the US Bureau of Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose in February over the prior month.  Between January and February, CPI rose 0.4%, with shelter accounting for over 70% of the increase. Energy prices rose 0.4%, while the energy index decreased 0.6% as the prices for natural gas and fuel oil fell.  The 6% increase in annual CPI was the smallest 12-month increase since September 2021. The index that measures all items except food and energy index rose 5.5% the last 12 months, the lowest increase since December 2021. ...