Feb CPI +0.2%, as expected by an MNI survey.>

US DATA: Feb CPI +0.2%, as expected by an MNI survey and below the +0.3% 

whisper number, with energy prices up only 0.1% and food prices flat. 

Unrounded, the overall change was +0.15005%, close to being rounded down 

to +0.1%.

- Core CPI as-expected (+0.18176% unrounded), with offsetting 

components. Misses of February core CPI have generally been small when 

they do happen, as analysts have been very accurate at predicting 

overall CPI. 

- The y/y rate for headline CPI rose to +2.2% vs +2.1% in Jan, while the 

y/y rate for core CPI stayed at +1.8%. Financial markets are watching the

inflation indicators closely ahead of next week's FOMC meeting, but 

today's unsurprising report will allow them to focus on the retail sales 

release on Wednesday.

- Within the core, the large owners' equivalents rents category +0.2% 

and apparel prices +1.5%, offsetting prices declines for medical care, 

new vehicles, and used vehicles.