U.S. February Consumer Prices Rise 0.4%; Core Up 0.3%

Prices paid by U.S. consumers rose a greater-than-expected 0.4 percent in February, the most in four months, supporting concerns at the Federal Reserve that inflation may be starting to pick up.

Higher costs for gasoline, air fares and lodging led the increase in the consumer price index last month after a gain of 0.1 percent in January, the Labor Department said today in Washington. Core prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.3 percent, the most since September, after rising 0.2 percent.

Economics