TechFlow news, March 12 — The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the February Consumer Price Index (CPI) report tonight at 8:30 PM Beijing time. Markets expect inflation to ease slightly but remain above the Federal Reserve's target. According to FactSet consensus estimates, the February CPI is projected to rise 0.3% month-on-month and increase 2.9% year-on-year, down from January's 3.0%. If accurate, this would mark the first time since early 2023 that the annual rate falls below the 3% threshold. Core CPI is forecast to rise 0.3% month-on-month and 3.2% year-on-year.
Concerns about inflation have been reignited by the Trump administration’s tariff and immigration restriction policies. Economists at Wells Fargo stated, “The February CPI report may show initial impacts from tariffs, but this is only the beginning.” Combined trade tensions and supply chain complexities could undermine the Fed's confidence in the disinflation trend, potentially delaying market expectations for interest rate cuts.
