An American flag overlapped with a price tag
The persistence of inflation caught economists, analysts, and, most importantly, members of the Federal Reserve by surprise.

What a difference three months makes.

At the end of 2023 and the start of 2024, it appeared that the US was on a glide path to what I termed "economic nirvana": Growth would stay steady, if not spectacular, as inflation cooled off to a more manageable pace. This combination would not only let America continue its four-year expansion but also allow the Federal Reserve to ease up on its attempts to rein in the economy — and maybe even cut interest rates.