The gas cost offset more expensive food and higher rent maintain a measure of the consumer price index and flat last month.
The U.S. labor department said Wednesday, food prices rose 0.2%, from December 11 months. The rent and airline ticket prices also rose. Gasoline prices dropped 2.3%, the seasonally adjusted.
December consumer price index flat, the end of a year, inflation slowed. The consumer price index rose only 1.7%, in 2012, in 2011 fell by 3%. Food prices rose by 1.8%, down from 4.7% in 2011. Energy prices rose slightly.
Eliminate fluctuation great food and energy sources, the core price index rose to 0.1% in December, compared to November. The core price index rose only 1.9%, in 2012. This is less than the fed's inflation target is 2%, less than 2011 years of growth of 2.2%.
Mild inflation leave consumers spend more money, it is a very good economic. Low inflation rate, also makes the fed will continue to work hard, to speed up the economy more easily. If the fed worries that the price rise too fast, it may have to raise interest rates.
As the employment growth and economic steady growth, but modest, many companies do not want to raise their prices for fear of losing customers. This is help to keep inflation tame. The workers also weak growth, may require higher wages. This limits their ability to pay more.
Natural gas prices fell sharply, in recent months smash this summer. Gasoline prices by an average of $3.29 a gallon, the last Wednesday. This is about a month ago the same, and is far lower than the price of the summer, almost reaching $4 a gallon.
The price is in 2013 in the first few months could maintain in low level, measure based on Tuesday reported the wholesale price.
The producer price index, it is to measure the price change, to reach consumers, in December fell for the third consecutive month. Food wholesale prices for 19 months, mainly because of the cost of beef and veal fell sharply. The price of vegetables and cheese has also fallen.
Not everything in the wholesale level cheap. Women and girls clothes cost up for nine years the most. Fresh fruit prices also rose.
With inflation tame, the fed has held enough efforts to stimulate economic growth. Last month decided to buy Treasury bonds and mortgage debt of $8.5 billion a month, and work to reduce borrowing costs, and to encourage more consumption.
The federal reserve also said last month, the company plans to keep its key short-term interest rates in the record after low unemployment rate fell to 6.5% - it may need 3 years. To keep the unemployment rate in 7.8% of the high.



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