Gas and shelter costs contributed more than half of that monthly increase, according to the BLS.
Economists were expecting a 0.3% monthly increase and an annual rate of 3.4%, according to FactSet consensus estimates.
The Fed has been wanting to see meaningful progress on inflation before it starts cutting rates.
Excluding gas and food prices, categories that tend to be more volatile, core inflation rose 0.4% from the month before, bringing the annual rate to 3.8%, the same as February’s reading.
Economists had anticipated a 0.3% monthly gain and for the annual rate to inch lower to 3.7%, according to FactSet.
Persons:
” Greg McBride, Bankrate, Economists
Organizations:
CNN, Federal Reserve, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS