Federal Reserve officials said data released on Wednesday showed U.S. inflation was continuing to ease even as they noted heightened uncertainty in the coming months as they await a first glimpse of the incoming Trump administration's policies.

President-elect Donald Trump will re-enter the White House next week against a more challenging economic backdrop than when he was sworn in for the first time in 2017 — starting with the threat of inflation.

Bitcoin was rising marginally but remained below $100,000 following a retracement from last month's record high. "Discretion may be the better part of valour in digital assets over the next week or so,

Consumer prices rose 2.9% in December compared to a year ago, ticking up from the previous month and extending a resurgent bout of inflation just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.