Still No Inflation?

Inflation is still a no show. That’s what the Labor Department’s February consumer price index report, scheduled for release today, will probably show. Analysts predict the CPI will show a rise of 0.1%, matching January’s increase. They estimate that the so-called core rate of the CPI, which excludes food and energy, climbed 0.2% in February after a 0.1% rise for January. In another report to be released today, the Commerce Department is expected to say that the nation’s trade deficit widened in January as exports cooled and imports increased. The report is likely to show that the shortfall in goods and services rose to $15.0 billion for the month from $13.8 billion for December.