Energy surge sends US consumer prices up 0.5 pct.
WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer prices rose 0.5 per cent in September, the largest increase in eight months. The result reflects another big jump in energy prices in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which shut Gulf Coast refineries and caused gasoline prices to spike around the country.
The September increase in the closely watched consumer price index was the biggest one-month gain since a 0.6 per cent rise in January, the Labor Department reported Friday.
Energy prices shot up 6.1 per cent, led by a 13.1 per cent surge in gasoline. Analysts believe the impact of the hurricane will be temporary.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy, rose a tiny 0.1 per cent in September.