The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.4 percent in April. Core prices, which exclude food and energy, rose just 0.2 percent during the same period, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report.
In the 12 months ended in April, core prices were up 2.3 percent.
In March the CPI rose 0.6 percent, and core prices rose 0.1 percent.
During the first four months of 2007, the CPI rose 4.8 percent compared with a 2.5 percent increase for all of 2006.
The department said the early 2007 increase was due to larger increases to energy and food prices.
