The labor market seems to be holding up despite rising energy costs, reducing pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates.

Faster growth at the beginning of this year reflects hyperscalers' massive investments in AI.

The highest monthly increase in nearly 4 years can largely be attributed to soaring gas prices resulting from the war in Iran.

Even before the Iran war, job openings fell to just 0.9 per unemployed worker, from a high of 2-to-1 in 2022.

Wall Street firms predict inflation closer to 3% than 2%, a rising unemployment rate, and a 30% chance of an economic downturn.

The year-over-year CPI was 2.5%, the lowest in nearly five years.

After minuscule job growth last year, companies hired more workers last month than in any month since July.

The PPI increased 0.5%, the most since September, after a revised 0.4% increase in December.