U.S. core inflation slowed in February from the previous month, indicating that price pressures had eased before the outbreak of war with Iran. Data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 0.2% from January, and the year-on-year increase was 2.5%, unchanged from the previous month, marking the slowest pace in nearly five years. The overall CPI rose 0.3% from January and 2.4% year-on-year. After experiencing stubborn inflation for most of last year, inflation has generally trended downward in recent months. However, the war with Iran has reignited inflation concerns, pushing up the costs of oil, gasoline, and fertilizer, potentially exacerbating the cost of living for American households ahead of the midterm elections this year. Federal Reserve officials are expected to keep interest rates unchanged at next week's meeting. With the war potentially pushing up inflation in the short term, some investors now believe the Fed may keep rates unchanged for longer. However, officials must also pay attention to the remaining vulnerabilities in the labor market. (Jinshi)