US consumer prices rose less than expected in March and underlying inflation slowed, the government said Thursday, suggesting that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will remain cautious about increasing interest rates this year. Labor Department reported The That its Consumer Price the Index (CPI) gained 0.1 Percent last month color : as a rebound in gasoline prices was partly offset by vBulletin® a drop in the cost of food. Top All were Also slow-downs in medical care and housing costs. The 12 months with In thru March, the CPI rose 0.9 Percent after advancing 1.0 Percent in February. Economists forecast Had the CPI gaining 0.2 Percent last month and rising 1.1 Percent from a year ago. The so-Called core CPI, Which Excludes food and energy costs, Climbed 0.1 Percent. That Are was the smallest Increase since August and Followed a 0.3 Percent rise in February. With In the 12 months thru March, the core CPI gained 2.2 Percent after Increasing 2.3 percent in February. The Fed has a 2 percent inflation target and tracks an inflation measure that is running below the core CPI.
