Annual core inflation in the U.S. slowed to 2.1% in February, down from 2.2% in January, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed.

The Econoday consensus forecast was for core inflation, which excludes food and energy, to remain at 2.2%.

The broader U.S. consumer price index slowed to 1.5% in February from 1.6% in January. It rose 0.2% month over month following a 0% change in January.

The fuel oil index climbed 2.6% in February after a 1.3% decline in January. The wider energy index was up 0.4%, and food prices increased at the same rate.