US consumer index up 0.3%

Consumer prices in the United States generally rose in July. The US Department of Labor announced yesterday that its consumer price index had risen 0.3% last month, thanks to the rising cost of energy products and a range of other products. The index rose 0.1% for two consecutive months.

In the last 12 months of July, the consumer price index rose 1.8% after a 1.6% gain in June. Excluding the volatile components of energy and food, the index rose 0.3% after posting the same increase in June.

The so-called core CPI was boosted by increases in textiles, airline tickets and health care.

In the last 12 months of July, the core CPI rose 2.2% after rising 2.1% in June. The basic index of personal consumption expenditure rose 1.6% in June compared with the previous year.