Washington, DC, February 22, 2006--Consumer prices increased a larger-than-expected 0.7% in January, led by higher energy, food and housing costs, according to the Labor Department.
The core consumer price index - which excludes food and energy prices - increased 0.2%, as expected.
Economists had expected the CPI to rise 0.5% in January.
After two months of declines, energy prices rose 5% in January. Food prices rose 0.5%. Housing prices increased 0.5%.
