SpotlightMarch2018

By Jamie Barrie I nflation fears in the U.S. have intensified this year after recent reports have suggested wages were rising more quickly than expected and that this can cause prices for goods and services to increase. However, consumer prices increased at a modest pace of 2.2 percent in February, showing that inflation pressures appear to be under control at this time. The U.S. Labor Department data shows that the consumer price index increased 0.2 percent last month, after a sharp 0.5 percent gain in January. Data also shows that core prices, which exclude the volatile food and energy categories, climbed 0.2 per cent to 1.8 percent from a year ago, the third consecutive month.

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MARCH 2018 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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