Core inflation was 3% in February, as expected, key Fed gauge shows

Core inflation eased slightly in February before the recent surge in energy prices, according to a key gauge released Thursday that offers the Federal Reserve a snapshot of conditions leading into the Iran war. The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes food and energy, rose a seasonally adjusted 3% in February, the Commerce Department reported. The all-items headline inflation measure increased 2.8%. Both readings were in line with the Dow Jones consensus. The core annual inflation rate was 0.1 percentage point lower than in January while headline was unchanged. On a monthly basis, both core and headline prices rose 0.4%, also meeting forecasts. The Fed uses the PCE price index as its primary yardstick and forecasting tool for inflation. The Fed, which targets 2% inflation, sees core as a better indicator of longer-term trends. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates . Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news. Subscribe to CNBC PRO Subscribe to Investing Club Licensing & Reprints CNBC Councils Select Personal Finance Join the CNBC Panel Closed Captioning Digital Products News Releases Internships Corrections About CNBC Site Map Podcasts Careers Help Contact News Tips Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Get In Touch CNBC Newsletters Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Sign Up Now Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Advertise With Us Please Contact Us Ad Choices Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices CA Notice Terms of Service © 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Market Data Terms of Use and Disclaimers Data also provided by