CPI Rises 0.2%, Trade Gap Widens

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The prices U.S. consumers paid for goods rose during September as energy, health car and automobile costs all pushed higher, the government said Friday.

The Commerce Department said that its consumer price index – a closely watched measure of inflation – gained 0.2% during the month. The “core” CPI, which discounts the cost of volatile commodities like fuel and food, rose just 0.1%.

During August, the CPI rose 0.3% and the core rate also edged higher by 0.3%.

Economists said that continued stability in the CPI allows the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates low in an effort to spur spending. Increased spending boosts demand for trucking services.

Trucks carrying goods into the United States from ports were busier than those carrying goods on their way out of the country, the Commerce Department said.

The U.S. trade gap widened in August to a record $38.5 billion as the number imported goods shipped to the United States surged 2% to $120.3 billion. The value of all U.S. exports fell 1.3% to $81.9 billion, Commerce said.

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