March US Consumer Price Index rises 0.6%, led by energy costs

New York (Platts)--17Apr2007

March US Consumer Price Index rose 0.6%, led by a 5.9% increase in energy
costs, according to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Petroleum-based energy costs increased 10.1% and the index for natural gas and
electricity were up 1.3%.

Excluding food and energy, the CPI was up 0.1% in March and
year-over-year, the core CPI was 2.5%, down modestly from the previous report
when core CPI was reported at 2.7%.

The index for energy on a seasonal annually adjusted basis advanced at
22.9%, following a 2.9% gain in 2006. Petroleum-based energy costs and
charges for natural gas and electricity contributed 29% and 12%, respectively.
Gasoline prices increased 13% in March and were 7.2% higher than year-ago
levels.

--Linda Rafield, linda_rafield@platts.com