Washington, DC, May 18--On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.5 percent in April, following an increase of 0.6 percent in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Energy costs advanced sharply for the third consecutive month--up 4.5 percent in April.
Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy increased 6.3 percent and the index for energy services increased 2.3 percent. The index for food rose 0.7 percent. The index for food at home increased 1.1 percent, its largest advance since a similar rise in May 2004.
The index for all items less food and energy, which increased 0.4 percent in March, was virtually unchanged in April. Declines in the indexes for apparel and for lodging while away from home, which had accounted for the acceleration in March, were largely responsible for the deceleration in April.
