NEW YORK U.S. inflation rose to its highest monthly rate in more than 25 years in September, the government reported Friday, reflecting the rise in gasoline and natural gas prices after the hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast.
Excluding the soaring energy costs, prices remained restrained through most of the economy. The overall consumer price index, which has been on a moderate rise through much of the year, surged 1.2 percent last month, a pace not seen since March 1980, the Labor Department reported. The core inflation rate, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, rose only 0.1 percent, a pace that has stayed steady for the past four months.
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