The White House on Friday tried to look past government data showing a jump in inflation driven by the war in Iran. Consumer prices posted their largest monthly gain since 2022, according to new Labor Department data, as rising costs at the gas pump led overall prices up by 3.3% compared to a year ago. On a “core” basis, stripping out food and energy, prices rose by a more modest 2.6% from a year ago, which was below expectations. The White House largely focused on that latter figure. Deputy press secretary Kush Desai said the economy “remains on a solid trajectory,” while acknowledging in a statement that food and ... (full story)