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

U.S. consumer prices rebounded moderately in April as declining food costs partially offset rising rents, leading to the smallest annual increase in four years, but the inflation outlook remains unclear against the backdrop of tariffs.

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.