Prices rose half a percent in January, according to the latest consumer price index. That is up from a 0.1 percent decline in December, and five times the 0.1 percent increase in November. 

The monthly uptick was in line with expectation, though the year-over-year rate came in higher than expected 6.4 percent, a marginal drop from a 6.5 percent rate in December. 

Shelter (i.e. housing) contributed the largest share to the monthly increase, rising 0.7 percent. 

Energy costs were also up across the board. The price of piped gas shot up 6.7 percent, while energy overall was up 2 percent after two straight months of declines. 

Food prices, meanwhile, were up 0.5 percent. That is up from 0.4 percent in December, but still low relative to the last six months. 

Used car prices also continued their steady decline, dropping 1.7 percent month-over-month and 11.6 percent year-over-year. 

Despite the month-over-month drop, the annual rate has slowed for seven straight months.  

Share:
More In Business
Ousted McDonald's CEO Returns $105M After Misconduct
Former McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook has paid back more than $105 million in equity awards and cash to the burger giant after it learned that he had lied about the extent of his misconduct while he was its top executive.
Load More