On Monday, U.S. stock exchanges were mostly down. On Monday, US stock markets were mostly down as players preferred to avoid risk before expected today publication of data on inflation in the United States for February. United States for February. They will also pay attention to statistics on retail sales, which is scheduled for release on Thursday, Investing.com reported. Thursday, reports Investing.com.

The consumer price trend will give investors an idea of how soon we can expect the Federal Reserve to move to reduce the key rate. According to analysts' forecasts, inflation will be higher than in January figure and will amount to 0.4% on the background of the expected rise in gasoline prices. At the same time, they expect a slowdown growth of the core index (which does not take into account energy and food prices) to 0.3%. Retail sales, according to experts, will grow by 0.8%.

Earlier last week, the head of the Fed Jerome Powell made it clear, that the Fed is not yet ready to start reducing the rate, although he considers this step in the current year justified.