December CPI Report: U.S. Inflation Meets Expectations as Gasoline Prices Decline

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on Tuesday, showing inflation essentially in line with economists’ forecasts. On an annual basis, headline CPI rose **2.7% year‑over‑year**, the same pace as November, indicating that inflation continues at a steady but elevated rate compared with the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also increased **2.6% annually**, closely matching expectations and similar to the prior month’s reading. Importantly, gasoline prices declined by about 0.5% in December and are now down roughly 3% compared with a year earlier, helping to keep the overall inflation metrics from rising further. Overall consumer inflation has remained within a relatively narrow band throughout 2025, staying above the Fed’s goal but not accelerating sharply. Analysts believe the data will support the Federal Reserve’s likely decision to leave interest rates unchanged in the near term, as underlying price pressures appear steady and not intensifying. #CPI #Inflation #GasPrices #FederalReserve #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM