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
U.S. Jobless Claims Drop by 14,000 to 385,000
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week by 14,000 to 385,000 more evidence that the economy and the job market are rebounding briskly from the coronavirus recession.
Biden Seeks to Boost Fuel Economy to Thwart Trump Rollback
The Biden administration wants automakers to raise gas mileage and cut tailpipe pollution between now and model year 2026. It also has won a voluntary commitment from the industry that electric vehicles would make up roughly half of U.S. sales by 2030.
Load More