Consumer Prices Up Sharply in September

WASHINGTON - Consumer inflation rose at the fastest pace in four months in September, reflecting higher energy and food costs.

The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its closely watched Consumer Price Index increased by 0.3 percent last month as energy costs, which had been falling for three months, posted an increase and food prices jumped by the largest amount since June.

The 0.3 percent CPI increase was slightly above the 0.2 percent advance that economists had been expecting. Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, was up a more moderate 0.2 percent, in line with expectations.