US inflation in January was lower than expected. The Consumer Price Index, CPI, rose only 0.2% month over month, marking the smallest increase since July. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, increased in line with forecasts, while services costs rose but core goods prices remained largely stable. Lower energy, gasoline, and some goods prices helped moderate inflationary pressure, and the annual inflation rate also edged down slightly. However, super core inflation, excluding energy, food, and housing, rose by 0.6%, which is considered a high figure. Overall, after the report was released, expectations for interest rate cuts increased.

The United States Supreme Court has designated February 20, 24, and 25 as potential decision release dates, and financial markets are awaiting this institution’s ruling on the tariff case. This case could define the scope of Donald Trump’s trade authority and influence the direction of US trade policy. Analysts say any limitation on tariffs could reduce trade uncertainty and even strengthen expectations for interest rate cuts.

This week, in addition to US GDP and PCE reports, inflation and employment data from the United Kingdom, the New Zealand central bank meeting, and Canadian inflation data will be released. The Bank of England is watching inflation and labor market data to determine the path of monetary policy. This week’s inflation report is considered the most important data ahead of the March meeting, and January inflation is expected to remain around 3%, still above the central bank’s 2% target. In Canada, inflation, currently around 2.4%, likely increased slightly in January, but price pressures are still assessed as mild and are expected to remain close to the 2% target.

Cryptocurrency market analysts warn that a break below the 60,000 dollar level in Bitcoin could trigger a new wave of severe volatility and forced selling. Options market data on the Deribit platform shows a large concentration of contracts positioned for a drop below this level, and if prices fall, liquidations and deleveraging could be activated in a chain reaction. Some institutions, including Standard Chartered, have even raised the possibility of a decline toward the 50,000 dollar range, while Michael Burry has warned about the risk of a downward spiral. At the same time, shares of Coinbase Global Inc., despite a temporary rebound, are still significantly lower than last year, reflecting an overall weakening in crypto market sentiment.