CPI Up 0.4% in April

Washington, DC, May 15, 2007--The consumer price index in April rose 0.4 percent after increasing 0.6 percent in March, according to a report from the Labor Department. Core prices, which exclude food and energy, were up 0.2 percent after a 0.1 percent gain in March.

Core prices in the 12 months ended in April were up 2.3 percent.

Economists were expecting an increase of 0.5 percent in the consumer price index and an increase of 0.2 percent in core prices.

Energy prices were up 2.4 percent after jumping 5.9 percent in March. Fuel oil costs rose 2.1 percent and natural gas prices fell 1 percent. Gasoline prices jumped 4.7 percent.

Food prices rose 0.4 percent in after a 0.3 percent increase in March.

The cost of housing rose 0.2 percent in April for a second month. Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent. Auto prices were unchanged during the month.