Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Increased Year-Over-Year 2.6% and 0.6% in March

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6% in March, on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.4% in February and 0.3% in January. The March 1-month increase was the largest rise since a 0.6% increase in August 2012. The all-items index rose 2.6% for the 12 months ending March. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.6% the last 12 months, a smaller increase than the 1.3% rise for the 12 months ending February. The food index rose 3.5% over the last 12 months, while the energy index increased 13.2% over that period. The gasoline index continued to increase, rising 9.1% in March and accounted for over half of the seasonally adjusted increases in the all items index. The natural gas indexes also increased 5.0%. The food index rose 0.1% in March, with the index for food at home and the index for food away from home both rising.