Consumer prices rose 2.8 percent in the year through February, a slightly better result than economists had expected. But analysts are worried that tariffs could add to future price pressures.


Inflation eased more than expected in February, a welcome sign for the Federal Reserve as it grapples with the prospect of a sharp slowdown in growth as a result of President Trump’s trade war.

The Consumer Price Index was up 2.8 percent from a year earlier, after rising another 0.2 percent on a monthly basis. That was a step down from January’s surprisingly large 0.5 percent increase and came in below economists’ expectations.