The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.3 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. The March decline was the first 1-month decrease in the seasonally adjusted all items index since February 2016. A decline in the gasoline index was the largest factor, with a decrease in the index for wireless telephone services also contributing. The energy index declined 3.2 percent, with the gasoline index falling 6.2 percent, and other major energy ... (full story)

The cost of living in the U.S. declined in March for the first time since February 2016, showing inflation is moving up only gradually, a Labor Department report showed Friday. • The consumer-price index decreased 0.3 percent (forecast was unchanged) following a 0.1 percent advance the prior month • From a year earlier, prices were up 2.4 percent (forecast was 2.6 percent) after a 2.7 percent gain • Excluding food and energy, the so-called core CPI fell 0.1 percent from the prior month, the first decrease since January 2010 • Core rate was up 2 percent from March 2016 The decline -- reflecting cheaper motor vehicles, ... (full story)