Investing.com - Consumer price inflation in the U.S. was flat in line with expectations in December, while prices excluding food and energy costs inched up, official data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that consumer prices were flat in December, in line with expectations, after falling 0.3% in November.
Year-over-year, consumer prices rose at an annualized rate of 1.7% last month, compared to expectations for a 1.8% increase, after rising 1.8% in November.
Consumer prices, excluding food and energy costs, rose 0.1% last month, compared to expectations for a 0.2% increase. Core consumer prices eased up 0.1% in November.
Core CPI increased at annualized rate of 1.9% in December, in line with expectations and unchanged from November.
Core prices are viewed by the Federal Reserve as a better gauge of longer-term inflationary pressure because they exclude the volatile food and energy categories.
The central bank usually tries to aim for 2% core inflation or less.
Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar remained higher against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.25% to trade at 1.3271.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures remained mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a loss of 0.4% at the open, S&P 500 futures indicated a drop of 0.2%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a 0.1% advance.
In a report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that consumer prices were flat in December, in line with expectations, after falling 0.3% in November.
Year-over-year, consumer prices rose at an annualized rate of 1.7% last month, compared to expectations for a 1.8% increase, after rising 1.8% in November.
Consumer prices, excluding food and energy costs, rose 0.1% last month, compared to expectations for a 0.2% increase. Core consumer prices eased up 0.1% in November.
Core CPI increased at annualized rate of 1.9% in December, in line with expectations and unchanged from November.
Core prices are viewed by the Federal Reserve as a better gauge of longer-term inflationary pressure because they exclude the volatile food and energy categories.
The central bank usually tries to aim for 2% core inflation or less.
Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar remained higher against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.25% to trade at 1.3271.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures remained mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a loss of 0.4% at the open, S&P 500 futures indicated a drop of 0.2%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a 0.1% advance.