WASHINGTON: Consumer prices declined last month as the cost of gas fell sharply and food prices were unchanged. The tame reading is the latest evidence that the sluggish economy is keeping inflation in check.
The consumer price index declined a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent in March, after jumping 0.7 percent in February, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Gas prices fell 4.4 percent, reversing part of February’s 9.1 percent gain.
The report came one day after the prices of many commodities, including copper and oil, fell in response to a report of slower than expected growth in China. That suggests U.S. consumer prices will likely stay low in the coming months.
The drop “marks the start of what will likely turn out to be a string of declines stretching into the summer,” Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, said in a note to clients.
Wholesale gas prices and crude oil have continued to fall in April. Ashworth noted that usually prices increase in the spring ahead of the summer driving season.
Except for February’s large increase, consumer prices have declined or been unchanged in four of the past five months. In the past year, consumer prices have risen 1.5 percent. That’s the smallest yearly increase in the past eight months.
Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 0.1 percent. In the 12 months ending in March, they rose 1.9 percent. That’s below the Federal Reserve’s inflation target of 2 percent.
In February, consumer prices jumped by the most in more than three years, mostly because of a big increase in energy costs. Gas prices rose by the largest amount in more than 3½ years.
Since then, gas has gotten cheaper. Gas prices averaged $3.53 nationwide on Monday, according to AAA, 16 cents lower than a month ago.
Other prices also fell. Clothing prices dropped 1 percent, the most in 12 years.