WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer price increases eased from January to February but still indicated elevated inflation, posing a challenge for the Federal Reserve's interest rate plans.

WASHINGTON — Inflation eased last month as energy prices tumbled, raising hopes that a surge in prices increases may have peaked.

U.S. consumer prices rose last month at the fastest annual pace in nearly 40 years, magnifying how rapid and persistent inflation is eroding paychecks and increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy.

U.S. consumer prices rose in October at the fastest annual pace since 1990, cementing high inflation as a hallmark of the pandemic recovery and eroding spending power even as wages surge.

A key measure of prices paid by U.S. consumers cooled in December from a month earlier as slack in the labor market and muted demand helped keep inflation pressures tame.

U.S. consumer prices rose slightly in September, led again by sharp increases in the index for used vehicles.

U.S. consumer prices increased 0.6% in June, after three months of declines, with a big jump in gasoline prices accounting for over half of the gain.

A key measure of U.S. consumer prices declined in April by the most on record as travel and apparel spending collapsed during the coronavirus pandemic.

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer prices increased slightly last month, driven higher by more expensive food.

The August core consumer price index, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% from the prior month and was up 2.4% from a year earlier, a Labor Department report showed Sept. 12.