Washington, Jan 11 (EFE).- The United States’ consumer-price index (CPI) inched down a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent in December, the first decrease in nine months, the Labor Department reported Friday.
The CPI rose 1.9 percent year-over-year in December, compared with a 2.1-percent inflation rate in 2017.
Core CPI, which excludes the volatile categories of food and energy, ticked up 0.2 percent in December and increased 2.2 percent for all of 2018.
Energy prices fell 3.5 percent in December, mainly due to a 7.5 percent plunge in gasoline prices, while food prices rose 0.4 percent.
The dip in consumer prices may further encourage the US Federal Reserve to adopt a patient approach with respect to future interest rate hikes.