U.S. producer prices were unchanged in February for the first time in seven months, while fewer Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week, pointing to a stable economy that should allow the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady next Wednesday.

U.S. job openings rose at the start of the year, another sign the job market was solid when President Donald Trump returned to the White House

U.S. job growth likely picked up in February, with the unemployment rate expected to hold steady at 4.0%, but growing uncertainty over trade policy and deep federal government spending cuts could erode the labor market's resilience in the months ahead.