Consumer prices didn't move last month, the Labor Department reported today.
By contrast, they had increased 0.2% in each of the previous five months.
During the past 12 months, prices increased 2.1%.
Excluding food and energy costs, consumer prices rose 0.1%, following a 0.1% drop in January. That index rose 1.3%.
Energy prices fell 0.5% in February, compared with a 2.8% increase in January. Those prices have risen 14.4% since February 2009.
Food prices increased 0.1% in February, compared with a 0.2% increase in January. That index fell by 0.2% in the last 12 months.
Housing prices were unchanged after falling 0.5% in January. Those prices fell 0.4% in the past year.
In its analysis of the data, NAFCU wrote that "prices were slightly lower than expected in February, while core inflation was in line with expectations." The association projects that inflation will remain low this year and this will enable the Federal Reserve to continue to keep interest rates low.
