The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, March 12, edition that inflation remained high last month, driven by rising gas prices, before the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran increased energy costs further. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that consumer prices increased 2.4 per cent in February from a year earlier, matching January's rise. Core prices (excluding food and energy) climbed 2.5 per cent, also in line with January, marking the lowest level in five years. Both figures exceed the Federal Reserve's 2-per-cent target. The conflict that began with the U.S. and Israel attacking Iran on Feb. 28 has led to big fluctuations in oil prices due to shutdowns in Persian Gulf shipping lanes. Gas prices have surged and are likely to drive inflation higher when data is released in April. The price spike poses challenges for the Fed and could slow consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of economic growth. While it might be a temporary increase if the war ends soon, it threatens to worsen inflation for several months, adding to the strain from nearly five years of high prices. "Affordability" is already a contentious political issue for congressional Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.