The Labor Department on Wednesday said that the consumer price index (CPI) – a broad measure of how much everyday goods like gasoline, groceries and rent cost – increased 0.2% in February compared with last month, while it rose 2.8% on an annual basis.
So-called core prices, which include more volatile measurements of gasoline and food to better assess price growth trends, were up 0.2% from the prior month and 3.1% on an annual basis.
Food prices increased 0.2% in February. The index for food at home was unchanged over the month and up just 1.9% over the past 12 months.
Energy prices were up 0.2% in February – a smaller monthly increase than the 1.1% rise recorded in January. Gasoline prices were down 1% last month on a seasonally adjusted basis, while natural gas prices were 2.5% higher.
Housing costs rose in February as the shelter index increased by 0.3% for the month. That leaves the shelter index 4.2% higher than a year ago, marking the smallest 12-month increase since December 2021.