The Consumer Price Index dipped 0.1 percent in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This followed no change in November. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index rose 1.9 percent, the first time this index has increased at less than 2 percent since August 2017.
Prices for all items less food and energy, the “core CPI,” grew 0.2 percent, following a 0.2 percent November increase. The index rose 2.2 percent for the 12 months ending in December, unchanged from last month.
The food index increased 0.4 percent in December. Prices for food at home increased 0.2 percent while food away from home grew 0.3 percent. Over the past 12 months, food prices are up 1.6 percent.
The energy index decreased 3.5 percent in December after a 2.2 percent decrease in November. Gasoline prices decreased, falling 7.5 percent. The energy index fell 0.3 percent in the last twelve months.
Read the BLS release.
