Inflation Rate (CPI)

Previous: 3%

Forecast: 2.9%

The inflation rate (CPI) measures the average change in price of a basket of consumer goods and services. Lower than expected inflation is bullish, while higher than expected inflation is bearish.

The annual inflation rate in the US eased for a second consecutive month to 2.4% in March 2025, the lowest since September, down from 2.8% in February, and below forecasts of 2.6%. Prices for gasoline (-9.8% vs -3.1%) and fuel oil (-7.6% vs -5.1%) fell more while natural gas prices soared (9.4% vs 6%). Inflation also slowed for shelter (4% vs 4.2%), used cars and trucks (0.6% vs 0.8%), and transportation (3.1% vs 6%) while prices were unchanged for new vehicles (vs -0.3%). On the other hand, inflation accelerated for food (3% vs 2.6%). Compared to the previous month, the CPI decreased 0.1%, the first fall since May 2020, compared to expectations of a 0.1% gain. The index for energy fell 2.4%, as a 6.3% decline in gasoline more than offset increases in electricity (0.9%) and natural gas (3.6%). Meanwhile, annual core inflation eased to 2.8%, the lowest since March 2021, and below forecasts of 3%. On a monthly basis, the core CPI edged up 0.1%, below expectations of 0.3%. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics