New federal data indicate that lower energy prices helped ease inflation in February, a finding that was touted by the White House as a direct result of President Donald Trump’s economic policies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that inflation increased by only 0.2% last month, contributing to a 2.8% rise over the past year. This marks a drop from January’s annual inflation rate of 3%.
The decline was partly driven by falling energy prices—a key campaign promise of Trump—although it remains unclear whether this trend will continue. The BLS energy index fell by an average of 0.2% over the past twelve months, according to the latest data. “The index for shelter rose 0.3% in February, accounting for nearly half of the monthly all items increase,” BLS said. “The shelter increase was partially offset by a 4% decrease in the index for airline fares and a 1% decline in the index for gasoline. Despite the decrease in the gasoline index, the energy index rose 0.2% over the month as the indexes for electricity and natural gas increased.
“The index for food also increased in February, rising 0.2% as the index for food away from home increased 0.4%. The food at home index was unchanged over the month,” the report said. The Center Square added that egg prices remain elevated due to a persistent Avian flu epidemic, but that said, egg prices have also fallen about 25 percent or more since Trump took office.
The White House highlighted lower gas prices and airline fares, citing the reduction of regulations and the expansion of domestic energy production. Trump declared a national energy emergency when he took office. “Core consumer prices, which is the best measure of inflation, dropped to its lowest level in FOUR years,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.
“This inflation report, much like last week’s jobs report, is far better than the media predicted and the so-called ‘experts’ expected. When will they learn to stop doubting President Trump? As he successfully did in his first term, President Trump is driving down costs through massive deregulation and energy dominance,” she added.