U.S. consumer price index up 0.5 percent in February

U.S. consumer price index up 0.5 percent in February

2011-03-17 22:18:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.

Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.1 percent before seasonal adjustment, with the energy index again being the largest contributor, while the the food at home index showed a 0.8 percent increase in February, the largest since July 2008.

According to the report, the gasoline index continued to rise, and the index for household energy turned up in February with all of its components posting increases.

Only four months ago, the 12-month figure was 1.1 percent this past November. Also, the 12-month increase in the index for all items except food and energy reached 1.1 percent in February after being as low as 0.6 percent in October.

In addition, the report showed a 11 percent increase in the energy index, which represents the largest since May 2010, while the 2.3 percent rise in the food index is the largest since May 2009.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-17