Economics

A sharp drop in US inflation was a positive feature of the inflation picture in recent days. But the possibility of price increases resulting from US tariff policy, has pushed expectations the other way. It seems unlikely that interest rates will be cut in the US anytime soon. Meanwhile, in Europe things are moving in the opposite direction with inflation falling and the economy still weak. In Ireland inflation picked up in March with the year to year CPI figure for March 2% up compared with 1.8% in February. An important factor has been a sharp increase in food prices.