Price Growth , Cooling Falls Short of , Economist Expectations.br According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, br inflation in the United States cooled in January, br inching down from 3.4 to 3.1 on an annual basis.br According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, br inflation in the United States cooled in January, br inching down from 3.4 to 3.1 on an annual basis.br NBC reports that the data also showed br that "core" price growth remained flat br at 3.9 compared with the month prior.br While inflation did come down, economists had br been expecting a more robust slowdown that br would have brought inflation down to 2.9. .br Economists had also expected "core" price br growth to come down to 3.7, which it did not.br The final mile towards br the Fed’s 2 target was br always going to be slow, br erratic, and frustrating, Seema Shah, Chief global strategist at br Principal Asset Management, via NBC.br Today’s data is not what markets br or the Fed would have liked to see, br but it’s important not to overreact br and jump to the assumption that an br inflationary resurgence is developing, Seema Shah, Chief global strategist at br Principal Asset Management, via NBC.br Today’s data is not what markets br or the Fed would have liked to see, br but it’s important not to overreact br and jump to the assumption that an br inflationary resurgence is developing, Seema Shah, Chief global strategist at br Principal Asset Management, via NBC.br While some prices fell, others continued to rise.br Data showed that shelter costs climbed br over 6 on an annual basis, which includes br both rent and homeownership.br Economists have now forecast that solid br economic growth will continue to drive price increases. .br We continue to see the path back br to 2-percent inflation as challenging, br absent a more significant loosening br in the labor and housing markets. , Economists with Citibank, via NBC.br NBC reports that the latest data suggests that br the Federal Reserve will not look to start lowering br interest rates until late spring or early summer.