U.S. Consumer Prices Jump 0.5% in January

U.S. consumer inflation jumped sharply in the first month of 2018 with one key measure posting its highest increase in a year, the government reported Wednesday.

The consumer price index, which tracks the costs of household goods and services, rose 0.5 percent last month, overshooting analysts expectations, according to the Labor Department's closely-watched monthly report.

The core index, which excludes volatile food and fuel categories, rose 0.3 percent, the largest increase since January 2017.