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February 17, 2026

Inflation measure falls to nearly five-year low as gas prices fall and housing costs cool

  • Inflation dropped to 2.4% in January compared with a year earlier, down from 2.7% in December.
    • By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
    AP Economics Writer

    WASHINGTON — A key measure of inflation fell to nearly a five-year low last month as apartment rental price growth slowed and gas prices fell, offering some relief to Americans grappling with the sharp cost increases of the past five years.

    Inflation dropped to 2.4% in January compared with a year earlier, down from 2.7% in December and not too far from the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Core prices, which exclude the volatile food and energy categories, rose just 2.5% in January from a year ago, down from 2.6% the previous month and the smallest increase since March 2021.


     
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