US consumer prices crept up 0.1 per cent in July and were up 1.5 per cent when compared with July 2001, the government said today, confirming tame inflation.
The core rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2 per cent in July and was up 2.2 per cent from the same month a year earlier, the Labor Department said.
Energy prices advanced 0.4 per cent in July from the previous month, while food prices rose 0.2 per cent.
In the core rate, which is of greater concern to economists, medical care and housing prices more than offset lower prices for clothing and tobacco.
Communications costs climbed 0.9 per cent.
The medical care index rose 0.7 per cent in July, led by a 0.7 per cent rise in the cost of professional services, the largest monthly increase since May 1990.
Housing prices rose 0.1 per cent, and transportation costs advanced 0.1 per cent despite flat motor vehicle prices.
Clothing prices tumbled 1.0 per cent, while cigarette prices dropped 0.1 per cent.
AFP