After years of sticker shock at the grocery store and gas pump, Americans finally got a bit of good news today.
According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation cooled more than expected in January 2026. It’s not victory yet, but it is real progress.
Brand new data shows inflation down to 2.4% in January — beating expectations (again).
All private sector workers saw real earnings beat inflation by ~$1,400 in President Trump’s first year.
Construction workers: $2,100
Manufacturing workers: $1,700
Mining workers: $2,400 pic.twitter.com/cgkzRaBvBj— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 13, 2026
Here’s what the government reported today, February 13:
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Headline inflation came in at 2.4% year over year, down from 2.7% in December. Economists were expecting about 2.5%. This is the lowest level since May 2025.
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Prices rose just 0.2% from December to January, softer than the predicted 0.3%.
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Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, landed at 2.5% annually, down from 2.6%. That’s the slowest core pace in nearly five years.
Basically, prices are still rising – but they’re rising more slowly.
A big reason is cheaper energy, especially gasoline. Housing costs also showed signs of easing. Rent and shelter made smaller jumps than before, which is welcome news for families in Las Vegas, Reno, and everywhere in between.
Other categories actually fell:
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Used cars
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Household furniture
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Motor vehicle insurance
Not everything moved in the right direction. Airline fares jumped, and some services like medical care, recreation, and personal care got more expensive.
But overall the math came out in consumers’ favor, with some analysts calling the report a “welcome surprise.”
Inflation is still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal, so don’t expect dramatic interest rate cuts tomorrow. But this report gives the Federal Reserve some breathing room.
Markets reacted positively, with stocks stabilizing after recent dips. The economy feels steadier, which matters when you’re paying rent, buying groceries, or filling up your tank.
The past few years have been tough. Higher costs hit retirees on fixed incomes especially hard. Young families trying to buy their first home got squeezed. Small business owners faced rising supply bills on top of labor shortages.
This report doesn’t fix everything, but it shows the pressure is finally letting up.
Critics on the left argue inflation is still too high and that government spending programs are helping families cope.
Conservatives counter that runaway federal spending helped cause the mess in the first place, and that lasting relief comes from fiscal discipline, lower energy costs, and letting the private economy do its job.
Either way, the numbers don’t lie. January brought the slowest inflation pace in months.
No one’s throwing a party yet. Prices are still higher than they were a few years ago, and many Nevadans are still playing catch-up.
But this is a solid step forward.
After a long stretch of bad news, Americans finally got a break.
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