Consumer Price Index Up 0.3% in October

Washington, DC, November 15, 2007-- The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in October, driven by the sharpest rise in energy costs in five months, according to the Labor Department.

The index also rose 0.3% in September. Core prices, which exclude energy and food prices, rose 0.2% in October.

Both the CPI and core index were in line with analysts expectations.

Consumer prices were 3.5% higher than in October of 2006. Core prices were up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis.

Year-to-date prices have increased by a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.6%, driven by higher food and energy costs. That compares with a 2.5% gain in all of 2006.

Energy costs have jumped at a 12.3% annual rate this year, more than four times the 2.9% gain in all of last year. Food prices increased at a 5.5% annual rate in 2007, compared with a 2.1% rise in 2006.