National CRE News In Your Inbox.
Sign up for Connect emails to stay informed with CRE stories that are 150 words or less.
CPI for March Prints Cooler than Expected but Before Tariff Upheaval
The consumer price index rose 2.4% year-over-year in March, per data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists had forecasted a 2.6% annual increase, a modest slowdown from February’s 2.8%. On a monthly basis, headline inflation edged up 0.1% in March, aligning with economists’ predictions of a 0.1% rise, down from February’s 0.2% pace.
Core CPI rose 0.1% month-over-month compared with a 0.3% consensus and 0.2% in February. Year-over-year was 2.8%, the lowest since 2021, compared with 3.0% consensus and 3.1% the prior month.
U.S. inflation appeared to be moderating in early 2025, yet new tariffs and policy uncertainty are stoking fresh concerns. Typically, a dip in year-over-year price growth would be a positive signal. However, the March data presents a challenge for investors, policymakers, and businesses to interpret with confidence given tariffs have not figured into the data yet.
While March CPI data reinforces a cooling pattern, markets are adjusting to the potential inflationary impact of broad trade policies and the Federal Reserve’s possible reaction.
- ◦Economy
