WASHINGTON — Consumer prices declined in June for the third consecutive month, dropping 0.1%, the Labor Department reported Friday. Core prices, excluding food and energy goods, increased 0.2% from May to June, with a slight increase in the shelter index.
Economists expected consumer prices to be unchanged and core prices to increase 0.1%, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
For the year ending in June, consumer prices rose 1.1%, the smallest 12-month increase since a 0.2% decline in total prices registered in October. Core prices rose 0.9% for the year.
Energy prices fell 2.9%, equaling the decline for May. Gas prices fell 4.5%.
