Annual inflation in the U.S. dropped to zero.

Consumer prices in the U.S. over the past 12 months (from January 2008 to January 2009) have not changed, reports Bloomberg referring to data of Ministry of Labor the United States. The zero rate of inflation for the year was the lowest since 1955. So-called core prices, excluding the cost of petroleum products and food, rose at 1.7 percent.
In January of 2009 as compared to the previous month prices rose by 0.3 per cent, while core prices - at 0.2 percent, which was above analysts' forecast. The first half of the monthly inflation rate is associated with the fact that sellers have traditionally higher prices at the beginning of the year, despite falling sales. In addition, the collapse of prices for gasoline, has lasted the entire second half of 2008, stalled due to the stabilization of the oil market.
During the first half of 2008 in the United States observed the maximum inflation for several decades, exceeding the 5.5 percent annualized. This process was caused by a sharp rise in prices for oil and other commodities, including bread, cocoa, coffee and other food. However, since the beginning of the strengthening dollar and the euro and most other currencies in the world market, as well as the acute phase of the credit crisis, the pace of price growth dropped sharply.
According to experts, is a sharp decline in prices will result in a threat of deflation, which would reduce profits and make the payment of debts. The fight against deflation processes in the American economy is now one of the major challenges the U.S. government.
To support the national economy, the U.S. administration and Congress adopted a plan of economic incentives in the amount of USD 787 billion. Another program designed to help the financial sector, a cost of more than two trillion dollars. In addition, the refinancing rate was lowered to the Fed 0,25-0 per cent, its lowest level in U.S. history. There are, however, feared that after overcoming the crisis supersoft deflationary fiscal policy and a record government investment in the economy may be re-disperse inflation to peak values.