WASHINGTON - The consumer price index was unchanged in February, the first month without an increase since last March, as energy prices declined for the first time in 10 months, the Labor Department reported today.
Core prices, excluding food and energy costs, increased 0.1%.
Economists expected CPI and core CPI to each rise 0.1% in February, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
For the 12 months ending in February, core CPI increased 1.3%, the lowest increase since February 2004, compared to a 1.6% increase in the year ended in January. Total CPI increased 2.1% for the year ending in February.
The energy index fell 0.5% in February, the first decrease since April 2009, and followed a 2.8% rise in January. Gasoline prices dropped 1.4%.
Among core prices, the cost of medical care services increased 0.4%. Used car and truck prices increased 0.7%.
