Core consumer price index rises slightly less than expected in February

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent 
 in February on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.3 percent in January, 
 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, 
 the all items index increased 1.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.
 
 The gasoline index continued to increase, rising 6.4 percent in February and 
 accounting for over half of the seasonally adjusted increase in the all items 
 index. The electricity and natural gas indexes also increased, and the energy 
 index rose 3.9 percent over the month. The food index rose 0.2 percent in 
 February, with the index for food at home and the index for food away from 
 home both rising. 
 
 The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in February. 
 The indexes for shelter, recreation, medical care, and motor vehicle insurance 
 all increased over the month. The indexes for airline fares, used cars and 
 trucks, and apparel all declined in February. 
 
 The all items index rose 1.7 percent for the 12 months ending February, a 
 larger increase than the 1.4-percent reported for the period ending in January. 
 The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.3 percent over the last 12 
 months, a smaller increase than the 1.4-percent rise for the 12 months ending 
 January. The food index rose 3.6 percent over the last 12 months, while the 
 energy index increased 2.4 percent over that period.