US Inflation Falls to 2.4% as Tariff Effects Fade

US inflation fell to 2.4% in January after last year’s tariff-driven price swings. The consumer price index rose 0.2% from December. Core inflation increased 0.3% for the month. Economists expected a small decline in the annual rate. Prices dropped to 2.3% in April before climbing to 3% in September. Inflation eased again to 2.7% at the end of the year. The White House said its policies continue to control inflation. Investors watch the data for signals on interest rates. The Federal Reserve delayed cuts and will decide again in March. Jerome Powell expects tariff effects to raise prices only temporarily. Job growth slowed in 2025 despite a resilient labor market. Polls show falling approval for Trump, especially on inflation. The administration now promotes measures to reduce living costs.