Washington, DC, February 23—-The consumer price index rose 0.1% in January, after holding steady in December, according to the Labor Department.
The core index, which excludes typically volatile food and energy items, rose 0.2%, which was the same rate as reported in December.
Economists were expecting an increase of 0.2% in both the overall and core indexes.
Energy prices fell for a second month in a row, dropping 1.1% after a 1.3% decline in December. Gasoline prices fell 2.1%. Prices of fuel oil dropped 5.2%, the biggest decline since May 2003.
Housing prices grew at a rate of 0.1% after a 0.2% increase in December. Transportation prices declined for a second month in a row, falling 0.2% after a 0.7% decline in December.
Prices for medical care were up 0.4% in January after a 0.3% increase in December. Prices of new automobiles rose 0.7%, the biggest increase since November. Prices of tobacco and smoking products rose 1.9%, the biggest gain in more than two years.
