FX.co ★ US Inflation Rate Slows More Than Expected

In March 2025, the annual inflation rate in the United States decreased for the second consecutive month, reaching 2.4%. This marks the lowest rate since September of the previous year, dropping from 2.8% in February and falling short of the anticipated 2.6%. The prices of gasoline fell significantly by 9.8% compared to a 3.1% decrease previously, and fuel oil dropped by 7.6% against a prior 5.1% decline, whereas natural gas prices surged to 9.4% from 6%. The inflation rate also decelerated for shelter, decreasing to 4% from 4.2%, for used cars and trucks to 0.6% from 0.8%, and for transportation to 3.1% from 6%. Prices for new vehicles remained steady, unlike the previous decrease of 0.3%. Conversely, inflation for food items accelerated to 3% from 2.6%. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) experienced a 0.1% decline from the previous month, marking the first drop since May 2020, contrary to an expected 0.1% increase. The energy index fell by 2.4%, driven by a 6.3% decrease in gasoline prices, which compensated for increases in electricity (0.9%) and natural gas (3.6%). Furthermore, annual core inflation eased to 2.8%, the lowest since March 2021, and below the projected 3%. On a monthly scale, the core CPI rose by 0.1%, less than the expected 0.3% increase.