Gold prices edged lower on Thursday as the U.S. dollar strengthened, while investors assessed a flurry of economic data showing stubbornly strong U.S. inflation, suggesting the Federal Reserve might tread cautiously on further interest rate cuts.

Despite inflation in some sectors remaining outside the Federal Reserve's benchmark of 2%, officials indicated they are pleased with the current easing of interest rates, and more gradual cuts may follow.

Federal Reserve officials discussed potentially slowing down or pausing interest-rate cuts if progress on lowering inflation stalled out when they met earlier this month. Officials thought that if the economy performed in line with their expectations that inflation would continue to decline steadily,