Consumer prices increased 0.3 percent in September and 3.9 percent over the last 12 months, the government announced.
Increases in energy and food prices were the main sources of the increase. Gasoline costs continued to rise, and indexes for electricity and natural gas also increased. The government also cited broad increases in food price indexes. Without food and energy, the index increased just 0.1 percent in September, its smallest increase since March.
The 12-month change in New England was slightly higher at 4 percent but slightly lower for Central and Eastern Massachusetts, at 3.7 percent.
