Inflation has cooled significantly in recent months, yet many people are still paying more for a lot of things. That's because easing inflation doesn't actually mean prices are falling — it just means prices are rising more slowly. And that's a good thing for the economy. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption
The latest inflation data offers a snapshot of Americans' new pandemic spending habits. Prices are down for most goods and services but up sharply for groceries. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters hide caption
A sharp drop in gasoline prices led the consumer price index to fall in January. The CPI posted its first year-over-year drop since 2009. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption
A farmer protesting falling prices dumps cauliflower in front of the prefecture building of Saint-Brieuc in northwestern France as police look on Sept. 24. Fred Tanneau/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Macy Gould shared this photo from Lexington, Ky., where the gas prices are under $3. Macy Gould/Instagram hide caption
Monument to headier times: The euro logo outside the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. The International Monetary Fund has warned of possible deflation in parts of Europe. Frank Rumpenhorst/AFP/Getty Images hide caption