OECD Consumer Inflation Eases to 5.2 Percent in February

(MENAFN) Consumer inflation across the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) area eased to 5.2% in February, offering a measure of relief to policymakers grappling with persistent price pressures, according to the latest figures.

The data revealed that headline inflation retreated in 20 member countries during the second month of 2026, signaling a broader cooling trend across the bloc's economies.

A notable driver behind the decline was a 1.5% drop in energy prices during February — a reprieve that preceded the onset of Middle East tensions, which subsequently sent energy costs sharply higher. Food inflation also moderated, slipping to 4.2% over the same period, while core inflation — which strips out volatile food and energy components — held firmer at 5.5% across the OECD area.

Among major economies, the United States recorded an annual consumer inflation rate of 3.2% in February, while the United Kingdom saw price growth ease to 3.4%, as diminishing economic headwinds helped soften inflationary momentum in both countries.

The February snapshot captures a window of relative price stability before renewed geopolitical turbulence reshaped the global energy landscape, raising fresh concerns among OECD economists over whether the disinflationary trend can be sustained in the months ahead.

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