Annualized inflation eased to a 2.3 percent pace, the lowest since early 2021. But the month-to-month pace of inflation increased.

The Consumer Price Index jumped 2.3% in April from the year before, below March’s 2.4% increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday.

Prices for other foods declined in April. Inflation in the fresh fruits and vegetables group dropped by 0.7%, with lettuce and tomato prices both down by over 6%. Dried beans, peas and lentils, however, were up by nearly 6%, underscoring the volatile nature of food prices.

It's normal for some prices to rise at a much faster pace than overall inflation, said Omar Sharif, founder and president of research firm Inflation Insights. The impact, he added, depends on the role such items play in a given person's finances.

German inflation eased further to 2.2% in April, the federal statistics office said on Wednesday, confirming preliminary data.

Because it's based on third-quarter inflation, it's impossible to predict the 2026 COLA with any degree of accuracy. Because of the ongoing tariff back-and-forth, as well as a generally slowing U.S. economy, the inflation rate on the back end of the year is more uncertain than it usually is.

The April consumer price index, a key gauge of U.S. inflation, came in slightly lower than economists expected at 2.3% in April, but was still higher than the Federal Reserve's 2% goal. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has more.