The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% month over month in January, below expectations for a 0.3% increase. On an annual basis, headline inflation came in at 2.4%, also under forecasts. The data immediately lifted equity markets as investors re-calibrated expectations for the path of inflation and monetary policy.<\/p>\n
SlateStone Wealth chief market strategist Kenny Polcari explains what the CPI report means for the markets on ‘Varney & Co.’<\/p>\n
Former TD Ameritrade Chairman and CEO Joe Moglia told “Mornings with Maria”<\/a> that the CPI report confirmed growing evidence that inflation is cooling at a pace supportive of economic growth. Moglia noted that a year-over-year reading near 2.4% and a softer monthly figure would be “good for us… Especially with the jobs numbers that we saw on Wednesday.”<\/p>\n ENERGY GIANT BETS BIG ON US, SAYS ITS ELECTRICITY MARKET ‘HOTTEST’ IN THE WORLD<\/a><\/p>\n New York Stock Exchange with American flag. (robertcicchetti \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Energy prices played a central role<\/a> in the downside surprise. Gasoline prices declined during the month, helping offset continued increases in shelter and food costs. That energy-driven relief has become an increasingly important factor in keeping overall inflation from re-accelerating, even as certain producer-level prices remain elevated.<\/p>\n Moglia said that combination of moderating inflation and resilient employment could make<\/a> it easier for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting rates earlier than markets currently anticipate.<\/p>\n “All of these… Help the Fed have reasons to wind up cutting maybe prior to what they normally would have done,” he told Maria Bartiromo.<\/p>\n Evercore ISI senior managing director Mark Mahaney joins \u2018Varney & Co.\u2019 to break down why he\u2019s upgrading Airbnb and Expedia while downgrading Pinterest amid growing AI competition and slowing growth.<\/p>\n Moglia added that market reactions hinged heavily on how the inflation data compared with expectations.<\/p>\n “If it’s a good number, I think we’re going to see rally in the market,” he said, noting that the inflation reading could influence how quickly policymakers adjust rates.<\/p>\n INFLATION EASED SLIGHTLY IN JANUARY BUT REMAINED WELL ABOVE THE FED’S TARGET<\/a><\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/new-york-stock-exchange.png\")
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