CPI Decreased 0.3% in March

The Consumer Price Index decreased 0.3% in March on a seasonally adjusted basis. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index rose 2.4%.

Prices for all items less food and energy, the “core CPI,” decreased 0.1% in March, down from February’s 0.2% increase. The index rose 2.0% for the 12 months ending in March.

The food index increased 0.3%. Prices for food at home rose 0.5%, its largest increase since May 2014, while prices for food away from home increased 0.2%. Over the past 12 months, food prices are up 0.5%.

The energy index decreased 3.2% in March. The gasoline index posted a decline of 6.2% following a 3.0% February decrease.

Read the BLS release.