WASHINGTON — Consumer prices slipped 0.1
The Labor Department said the consumer price index rose just 1.9
Excluding the volatile energy and food categories, core prices rose 0.2
The figures suggest that the healthy economy is not yet creating widespread inflation pressures. That gives the Federal Reserve more leeway in deciding whether to raise interest rates. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said the Fed can be "patient" regarding rate hikes this year.
Christopher Rugaber, The Associated Press