Inflation in the United States remained at 2.4% year-on-year in February, unchanged from the previous month and in line with market expectations, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Wednesday. The annual behavior of prices in the United States was in line with market projections and at the same level as January's measurement, which recorded an increase of 2.4%. On a monthly basis, price variation in February was 0.3%, showing an acceleration compared to the 0.2% rise in the previous month and in tune with analysts' forecasts who expected a slight increase in the index. Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, remained again at 2.5% year-on-year in the second month of the year. While in the monthly comparison it advanced 0.2%, a tenth below the 0.3% recorded in January. The notable increases during the month occurred in healthcare, clothing, furniture, and household operations, airfares, and education. Meanwhile, communications, automobiles and used trucks, motor vehicle insurance, and personal insurance are among the main items that decreased in February. The housing index increased by 0.2% last month, being the most important factor in the monthly increase of all items. In food, an increase of 0.4% was observed due to a 0.3% variation in food consumed away from home and 0.4% at home. The energy index also increased in February, rising by 0.6%. February's CPI is the last one before the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East following the attacks by the United States, Israel, and Iran, which responded with an offensive against countries in the region and with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's crude oil passes. In this scenario, the effect on energy prices is already being felt, and the impact on global inflation is a threat that will have to be corroborated in the coming weeks with future measurements of price variations.
