Consumer Prices Edge Up

U.S. consumer prices rose slightly less than in November, while prices excluding food and energy edged up for the first time since July, according to a report on Wednesday that implied virtually no inflation pressures amid an anemic recovery.

The Labor Department said its Consumer Price Index nudged up 0.1% as energy prices rose by the smallest in five months, slowing from a 0.2% increase in October. Core CPI ticked up 0.1% as expected, after being flat for three straight months.

Economists had expected overall consumer prices to rise 0.2% in November.