Consumer Price Index Unchanged in November

The consumer price index was unchanged in November as gas prices dropped, the Labor Department said Friday.

Economists had projected a 0.1% increase in the government’s main inflation gauge, Bloomberg reported.

The unchanged reading followed a 0.1% decline in October.

The core CPI rate excluding food and energy rose 0.2% as medical and clothing costs increased, Bloomberg said.

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