Data released moments ago by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States of America showed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, rose by 0.1% in March, after rising by 0.4% in February, to come in below expectations, while the main index, excluding food and energy prices, rose to 0.4%, compared to By 0.5% in February.
On the other hand, the annual index increased over the past 12 months to 5.0% from 6.0% in February, while expectations were for a rise of 5.1%. The annual core index, excluding food and energy prices, fell to 5.6% on an annual basis in March from 5.5% to match. for expectations.
In the details of the index, the food index recorded a growth of 8.5% on an annual basis from 9.5%, while the energy index decreased by 3.5% in March and decreased by about 6.4 on an annual basis.
The March reading of inflation corresponds with the Fed’s expectations that inflation continues to slow down, and therefore will further support the US Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at its next meeting in May, as futures expectations rose by the CME’s FEDWatch tool after inflation figures to keep the Fed on interest rates unchanged in May to More than 40%, compared to less than 26% before these figures, which supported the strong US dollar declines.