WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. consumer inflation in January increased 3.0 percent from a year ago, after climbing 2.7 percent in November and 2.9 percent in December, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday.
According to the report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a broad measure of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, increased 0.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, after rising 0.3 percent in November and 0.4 percent in December.
The latest inflation report showed that the so-called core CPI, which excludes food and energy, grew 0.4 percent in January, following a 0.2-percent rise in December.
The core CPI has risen 3.3 percent over the last 12 months ending January, up from 3.2 percent in December, signaling continuous inflation pressure.
Indexes that increased over the month include motor vehicle insurance, recreation, used cars and trucks, medical care, communication, and airline fares.
U.S. egg prices continued to surge due to a shortage of egg-laying hens amid an outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, adding continued pressure to the inflationary landscape.
The indexes for apparel, personal care, and household furnishings and operations were among the few major indexes that decreased in January. ■