Washington, March 25 (QNA) - US import prices in February recorded their largest increase in four years, driven by a surge in energy costs amid the Middle East conflict, reinforcing signs of accelerating inflation in the coming months.

The larger-than-expected rise, reported by the US Department of Labor, reflected strong gains in food and consumer goods prices. Imported capital goods also posted record increases, fueled by investments in artificial intelligence and the boom in data center construction.

Fertilizer prices rose as well, likely pushing food inflation higher, while imported fuel prices jumped 3.8 percent last month, marking the largest increase since April 2024, following a 1.2 percent decline in January.

Economists say that rising inflation, even before the US-Israel-Iran tensions, may prompt the Federal Reserve to maintain interest rates unchanged for some time. (QNA)