Inflation eased to a four-year low in April as the nascent impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs were offset by their cost-dampening effects in a slowing economy. Overall consumer prices increased 2.

New Zealand's inflation expectations rose in the second quarter to its highest in a year, a Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) survey showed on Friday, as markets expect the central bank to cut rates when it meets end of this month.

Wholesale prices posted the biggest drop in April since the pandemic in 2020, but economists say the decline in inflation appeared to be a one-off that might not be sustained if tariffs persist at current levels.

Consumer prices rose 2.3% in April compared to a year ago, cooling slightly from the previous month and defying fears of an inflation surge in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs last month. The reading -- which marked the lowest inflation rate since 2021 -- matched economists' expectations.

Cooling inflation could shift gold prices — but other factors may have more of an impact right now. Here's why.

Rising rent prices were a major factor pushing up consumer prices in April. While they’re expected to come down in the months ahead as the U.S. economy slows, the path ahead will be bumpy, according to data from real-estate companies.

Retail sales increased by 0.1% in April as consumers kept up their spending momentum ahead of potential price increases from U.S. tariffs.

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.