Inflation may have picked up slightly last month as President Donald Trump's widespread tariffs kicked in, a trend economists expect will become more visible in the coming months.

The improvement in inflation comes as President Donald Trump secures a couple of important trade deals. Consumer prices rose less than expected in April, with the pace of annual inflation falling to its lowest level since early 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday.

U.S. consumer price inflation eased again last month, suggesting little impact from President Donald Trump's tariff regime heading into the second quarter. The Commerce Department pegged its headline Consumer Price Index for April at an annual rate of 2.

The lower gas prices track with lower crude oil prices. In the ups and downs of Michigan gas prices, this week they were down 15 cents a gallon, offering some much-desired relief at the pump for drivers concerned about inflation and recession warnings.

Gas prices in Atlanta have dropped to an average of $2.87 per gallon, down 3.6 cents from last week and over 53 cents lower than a year ago.