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2026-02-13 22:42:24
[US January CPI Rises Less Than Expected; Stabilizing Labor Force May Keep Fed on Hold] Data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday showed that the CPI rose 0.2% month-over-month in January, slightly lower than December's 0.3% and also lower than economists' expectations of 0.3%. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core CPI rose 0.3% month-over-month, slightly higher than December's 0.2%. Year-over-year, CPI rose 2.4%, down from December's 2.7%, mainly due to a higher base last year; core CPI rose 2.5% year-over-year, lower than December's 2.6%. Notably, the January report included, for the first time, updated data on seasonally adjusted factors reflecting price changes in 2025. Economists point out that core CPI data in January often exceeds expectations because the Bureau of Labor Statistics' models fail to fully account for one-off price increases by businesses at the beginning of the year. This month's core CPI increase may reflect both this early-year price increase effect and the transmission effects of the Trump administration's widespread tariffs. Despite the current slowdown in inflation, the stable labor market may allow the Federal Reserve to maintain current interest rates for some time. Economists predict that inflation may see a temporary rebound this year, influenced by the transmission of import tariffs and the depreciation of the dollar last year.
