Americans saw little change in what they paid for key items as prices increased by 0.1% last month, the Labor Department reported today.
That index has risen 2.3% in the last year and increased during six of the last seven months. It had been unchanged in February.
Excluding food and energy costs, consumer prices were unchanged in March. That index, which had increased 0.1% in February, increased 1.1% in the past year.
Energy prices were unchanged last month, following a 0.5% decline in February. Those prices have risen 18.3% in the past year.
Food prices increased 0.2% in March, following a 0.1% increase in February. They increased 0.2% in the past year.
Housing prices fell 0.1% in March, after being unchanged in February. Those prices fell 0.6% in the past year.
