In line with expectations in September, U.S. consumer prices rose 0.2%, government data showed on Oct. 15.
The Labor Department's consumer price index (CPI) showed a year-over-year decline of 1.3%, in a report being monitored for signs of deflation rather than inflation in light of the weak economy.
The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, a figure that some economists say offers hints of future inflation trends, also increased by 0.2% for the month and is up by 1.5% from September 2008.
"Inflation is staying level for the moment, though it is still within the danger zone for a drop into deflation," said Moody's Economy.com economist Andres Carbacho-Burgos.
Of the main components of the CPI, the index for all types of gasoline increased by 1% in September while that for commodities increased by 0.3%.
The index for non-durables other than food increased by 0.4% and for durable goods by 0.4%.
The CPI for services increased by 0.1% and that for food and beverages fell by 0.1% and for energy increased by 0.7%.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009
