Jan 27 (Reuters) - HCA Healthcare on Tuesday forecast its profit for 2026 above Wall Street estimates after reporting better-than-expected ​quarterly earnings on robust medical care demand. Hospital operators such ‌as HCA are benefiting from higher utilization of the government's Medicare insurance plans, particularly ‌when older adults who are covered undergo surgical procedures. As subsidies that were present during the COVID-19 pandemic under individual Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans expire th ...

Core Insights - Core U.S. consumer prices rose less than expected in December, indicating a potential easing of inflation as the Federal Reserve considers its next interest rate decision [1] - The consumer price index (CPI) excluding food and energy showed a monthly increase of 0.2% and an annual increase of 2.6%, both 0.1 percentage points below expectations, suggesting that core inflation may be stabilizing [2] - The overall CPI increased by 0.3% for the month, aligning with the Dow Jones consensus estimate, while the annual rate stood at 2.7%, indicating that inflation is moving closer to the Fed's 2% target but remains elevated [3] Detailed Breakdown - Shelter, a significant component of the CPI, rose by 0.4% monthly and 3.2% annually, contributing notably to the overall inflation figures [4] - Food prices increased by 0.7% for the month, with notable rises in recreation, airfares, and medical care, while some tariff-sensitive categories also saw price increases [5] - The recreation category experienced a record monthly gain of 1.2%, the largest since data collection began in 1993, highlighting significant inflationary pressures in certain sectors [5]