CPI February 2026: Inflation ticked up to 2.4%

Inflation is sticky. The Fed is watching. Markets are not thrilled.

📊 CPI February 2026: +2.4% YoY

February Consumer Price Index came in at +2.4% year-over-year, up from +2.2% in January. Core CPI (ex-food and energy) +2.8% YoY.

Why it matters: Stickier-than-expected inflation reduces the Fed's ability to cut rates in 2026. Every rate cut delay is a headwind for long-duration growth assets — AI stocks included.

Portfolio impact: OKLO, ASTS, HIMS all rate-sensitive. Higher-for-longer rates mean higher discount rates on future cash flows. Positioning accordingly.

🏛️ EU AI Act Enforcement Begins Phase 2

The European Union's AI Act moves into its second enforcement phase, requiring large AI models to register with the EU AI Office and provide detailed documentation on training data.

Why it matters: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google all now officially subject to EU oversight. Compliance costs are real — and may favor larger incumbents over startups.

— The AI Decoded Team