US annual inflation rate in February remains relatively stable at 2.8%

Consumer prices remained relatively stable in February even as some economists have warned prices could rise again amid Donald Trump’s trade war and stock markets have fallen on fears of a recession.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the prices of a range of goods and services, the annualized inflation in February was 2.8%, a 0.2% decrease from January’s year-over-year rate of 3%. The month-by-month price increase for all goods minus the volatile food and energy industries was 0.2%, compared to January’s 0.4%.

The egg shortage caused by the avian flu outbreak drove egg prices up 10.4% in February. Meanwhile, energy prices cooled a bit, rising 0.2% in February compared to 1.1% in January.