Consumer Price Index Grows Slightly in August

The consumer price index rose 0.1% in August, the least in three months, the Labor Department said Sept. 17.

The increase in the government’s main inflation gauge followed a 0.2% increase in July, Labor said. The core CPI rate, which excludes food and energy, also rose 0.1%.

Economists had forecast a 0.2% increase both measures.

Almost 60% of the CPI covers prices consumers pay for services. Climbing consumer prices could reflect an increase in demand for consumer goods, which increases demand for trucking services.