After a short period of firmness at the start of the year, inflation has generally continued to decline slowly, in line with the Fed's forecast last year, said Nick Timiraos, the Fed's mouthpiece. Prices of core services (excluding housing) remained flat in April. Housing prices rose 0.35% in April. Prices of core goods rose 0.27% in April after falling 0.27% in March. The report would have been met with applause in the Martin Building (Fed headquarters) had it not been for the widespread threat of tariffs hampering the improvement.