On an annual basis, inflation ticked up to 3.4% from 3.1% previously.
The core CPI, stripping out energy and food costs, was unchanged but dipped down to 3.9% annually from 4% in November.
Government measures of housing costs tend to lag market rates, which have been trending down for apartment rental rates lately.
The central bank decided at its meeting last month to leave interest rates unchanged while also penciling in at least three cuts in 2024.
The Fed did warn that, should the economy perform stronger than expected, it retains the option to increase interest rates, though the probability of that is seen as low.
Persons:
“, ”, Phillip Neuhart
Organizations:
Federal Reserve, Labor, Fed, Markets, First, Bank Wealth Management, Dow Jones Industrial