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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. consumer spending unexpectedly fell in January while the annual increase in inflation slowed, supporting financial market expectations that the Federal Reserve would resume cutting interest rates in June. But the moderation in annual inflation, which partly reflected last year's high readings dropping out of the calculation, is unlikely to be sustained as President Donald Trump's administration ratchets up tariffs on imports, which economists warned would raise prices. "The good news is consumer inflation broke the curse of the January effect," said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS.

The latest reading of the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge showed prices rose on a monthly basis but dropped year over year, which should keep the central bank on hold at its next meeting in March.

Ongoing tariff threats from Washington and potentially sweeping government job cuts have darkened consumers’ mood and may be weighing on an otherwise mostly healthy economy. Data released Wednesday showed that consumers slashed their spending by the most since February 2021, even as their incomes rose. On a positive note, inflation cooled, but President Donald Trump’s threats to impose large import taxes on Canada, Mexico, and China -- the United States’ top trading partners -- will likely push prices higher, economists say.

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As of early Friday, the world’s preeminent cryptocurrency had lost a good chunk of the gains it had made since Donald Trump’s election victory in November.

Interest rates have fallen to their lowest level of the year as more investors believe Trump's tariff plans will hurt the US economy.

The $10-50 price range often includes mid-sized businesses with proven track records and plenty of growth runway ahead. They also usually carry less risk than penny stocks, though they’re not immune to volatility as many lack the scale advantages of their larger peers.

Healthcare companies are pushing the status quo by innovating in areas like drug development and digital health. Despite the rosy long-term prospects, short-term headwinds such as COVID inventory destocking have harmed the industry’s returns - over the past six months, healthcare stocks have collectively shed 6.3%. This drop is a stark contrast from the S&P 500’s 5.1% gain.

Industrials businesses quietly power the physical things we depend on, from cars and homes to e-commerce infrastructure. But they are at the whim of volatile macroeconomic factors that influence capital spending (like interest rates), and the market seems convinced that demand will slow. Due to this bearish outlook, the industry has tumbled by 1.7% over the past six months. This drop was disappointing since the S&P 500 climbed 5.1%.

Healthcare companies are pushing the status quo by innovating in areas like drug development and digital health. But speed bumps such as inventory destockings have persisted in the wake of COVID-19, and over the past six months, the industry has pulled back by 6.3%. This performance is a noticeable divergence from the S&P 500’s 5.1% return.