Inflation steady in February until Iran war drove up gas prices

Inflation was steady in February, right before the Iran war rattled global energy markets and sent prices skyrocketing.

Consumer price growth was steady in February, right before the Iran war rattled global energy markets and sent prices skyrocketing.

The consumer price index rose 0.3% month over month or 2.4% from one year ago, which was in line with what analysts and economists were expecting.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was also reported right in line with expectations, rising 0.2% from January or 2.5% from one year ago.

Grocery prices roes 0.4% from January to February, and are now tracking a 2.4% increase from a year ago, while "food away from home," a category that measures dining out, rose 0.3% from January and has now risen 3.9% from one year ago.

Shoppers in the SoHo neighborhood of New York on Feb. 13, 2026.Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty Images fileFebruary’s report was produced before the United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on the final day of the month.