Consumer Cos Down Despite Muted Inflation Data - Consumer Roundup

Consumer companies fell despite a softer-than-anticipated consumer-price inflation report.

Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% in January, a deceleration from 2.6% in December and below the mean economist estimate of 2.5%.

"Price pressures percolating beneath the surface should temper the optimism around a third rate cut this year that is now priced at coin-flip odds in Fed funds futures markets," said Josh Jammer, senior investment strategy analyst at money manager ClearBridge Investments.

"Continued shelter disinflation helped keep the headline and core CPI measures in check last month, however 'supecore' CPI - core services ex-shelter - accelerated by 0.6% in January, the highest reading in a year."

Fast-food chain Wendy's shares rose modestly, but remain deep in the red for the year to date after it posted a drop in same-restaurant sales in the fourth quarter.

Same-restaurant sales fell 10.1%, reflecting weakness in the U.S. Shares of French cosmetics giant L'Oreal slid after it posted quarterly sales growth shy of analysts' expectations.

Write to Rob Curran at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-13-26 1742ET