Recent data suggest U.S. economy remains hot
Excluding volatile food and energy costs, prices in U.S. rose 0.4% from December to January
Americans have continued to consume at a solid rate
The consumer price index rose 0.3% from December to January and 3.1% from a year ago
Central bank cautioned that it “does not expect it will be appropriate” to cut rates until it has greater confidence inflation is moving sustainably to 2% target
U.S. worker paycheque growth slowed late last year
Most economists expect the first rate cut to occur in May or June
The latest data suggests the American economy is achieving a difficult “soft landing”
A measure of consumer sentiment has jumped by the most since 1991
Member of the Fed's board of governors noted that inflation is slowing even as growth and hiring remain solid