CPI Up 0.4% in February, a 3.2% Increase From a Year Ago

In February, the consumer price index (CPI) saw a 0.4% increase from the previous month and has risen 3.2% over the past year, according to the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. These figures were generally expected, though the yearly increase slightly surpassed predictions, indicating a steady but slightly accelerated inflation rate. When looking at core CPI, which excludes the more unpredictable food and energy sectors, there was also a 0.4% monthly increase and a 3.8% rise year-over-year, both slightly higher than anticipated.