Core consumer price index comes in flat in January

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent 
 in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
 reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.4 
 percent before seasonal adjustment.

 The gasoline index continued to increase, rising 7.4 percent in January and 
 accounting for most of the seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index. 
 Although the indexes for electricity and natural gas declined, the energy 
 index rose 3.5 percent over the month. The food index rose slightly in January, 
 increasing 0.1 percent as an advance in the index for food away from home more 
 than offset a decline in the index for food at home. 

 The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in January. The 
 indexes for apparel, medical care, shelter, and motor vehicle insurance all 
 increased over the month. The indexes for recreation, used cars and trucks, 
 airline fares, and new vehicles all declined in January. 

 The all items index rose 1.4 percent for the 12 months ending January, the same 
 increase as for the period ending in December. The index for all items less 
 food and energy also rose 1.4 percent over the last 12 months, a smaller 
 increase than the 1.6-percent rise for the 12 months ending December. The food 
 index rose 3.8 percent over the last 12 months. In contrast to these increases, 
 and despite rising in recent months, the energy index declined 3.6 percent 
 over the last year.