Energy costs push up Consumer Price Index

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 9:25 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Consumer prices jumped by 0.3 percent in January, the largest increase in nine months, as concerns about a possible war in Iraq helped push energy prices up sharply.

The Labor Department reported today that the January increase in its Consumer Price Index, the most closely watched inflation barometer, followed more moderate increases of 0.1 percent in both November and December.

The rise in consumer prices was the largest increase since last April, when prices rose by 0.4 percent.

The big jump last month was driven by a 4 percent surge in energy prices

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