Consumer Prices Edge Up 0.1% In April, While Core Prices Spike 0.3%

U.S. consumer prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in April, the Labor Department said Friday. Energy prices slumped 1.3% last month while food prices were unchanged. The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, jumped 0.3%, driven by another increase in housing expenses and also a gain in medical care costs. This is the fastest rate of core prices since January 2013. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected both the overall CPI and the core rate to increase by 0.1%. Consumer prices have fallen an unadjusted 0.2% over the past 12 months, the largest decline since October 2009. Core prices are up 1.8% over the past year, the same rate as in March.