US Inflation Falls to 2.4% as Tariff Effects Fade

US inflation fell to 2.4% in January after tariff-driven volatility last year. The consumer price index rose 0.2% for the month. Core inflation increased 0.3% as underlying costs continued to firm. Economists had expected a slightly higher annual rate. Prices swung sharply last year, hitting 2.3% in April and 3% in September. The White House said its policies kept inflation under control. Investors watch the data for signals on future interest rate cuts. The Federal Reserve paused reductions and will decide again in March. Jerome Powell expects tariff effects to raise prices once before stabilizing. Job growth slowed to 181,000 in 2025 after large revisions. Polls show weak approval for Trump, especially on inflation. The administration now promotes plans to reduce housing, debt, and drug costs.