The Consumer Price Index increased 0.3% in January, before seasonal adjustment, and was 2.1% higher than it was a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Seasonally adjusted, the index for all items with the exception of food and energy advanced 0.3% in January, following a 0.1% rise in December. An increase in the index for medical care accounted for about 60% of the acceleration.
Medical care costs rose 0.8% in January and are 4.3% higher than a year ago. The index for medical care commodities--prescription and nonprescription drugs and medical supplies--increased 0.6%. The index for medical care services advanced 0.9%. And the indexes for professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.8% and 0.6%, respectively. Read the news release.
