Inflation Rate Cools , as Federal Reserve Weighs , Future Interest Rates.<br />In February, price growth in the United States cooled <br />to reach an annual rate of 6% according to data released <br />by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 14. .<br />In February, price growth in the United States cooled <br />to reach an annual rate of 6% according to data released <br />by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 14. .<br />NBC reports that the cooling is in line with <br />economists' forecasts and lower than <br />January's 6.4% when compared to the year before.<br />NBC reports that the cooling is in line with <br />economists' forecasts and lower than <br />January's 6.4% when compared to the year before.<br />According to the latest <br />Consumer Price Index, inflation <br />continued to rise in February by 0.4%.<br />However, this is less of an increase <br />than January's 0.5% price increase.<br />Similarly, energy costs continued to increase <br />with a 5.2% climb in February, compared <br />to an 8.7% increase in January. .<br />When it comes to the price of food, <br />costs have continued to increase <br />in February by 0.4%. .<br />Compared to the same time <br />in 2022, the cost of food has <br />increased a staggering 9.5%.<br />NBC reports that the news comes <br />just days after the collapse of <br />Silicon Valley Bank and Signature bank. .<br />NBC reports that the news comes <br />just days after the collapse of <br />Silicon Valley Bank and Signature bank. .<br />In the wake of the collapse, economists see the Federal <br />Reserve would make smaller hikes to its key federal<br />funds rate or halt the series of increases altogether.<br />A rate pause next week may give the Fed the space to wait for financial stability concerns to hopefully settle, before resuming hikes next meeting. , Seema Shah, Chief global strategist at <br />Principal Asset Management, via NBC
