Consumer Inflation Drops on Lower Energy

Washington, DC, Jan. 15, 2010--U.S. consumer inflation decelerated in December, the Labor Department said.

The consumer price index increased 0.1%, after a 0.4% rise in November. This is the slowest pace since July.

Energy prices rose 0.2% after a 4.1% spike in November. Food prices rose 0.2% after a 0.1% gain in the prior month.

The core CPI, excluding food and energy costs, was up 0.1% in December after remaining flat in November.