Annual inflation at 19-month low

Consumer prices rise 1.6%, tempered by plunging gas costs that offset increases in housing and health.

Consumer prices rose slightly in January, as lower gasoline prices offset the rising costs of housing, clothing and medical care.

The Labor Department said the consumer price index rose only 1.6% last month from a year earlier. That matched the slowest pace of annual inflation since June 2017.

Inflation has been tempered by a 10.1% plunge over the last 12 months in prices at the gas pump. But housing expenses — the dominant part of the index — have risen 3.2%.

The relatively modest level of inflation suggests that recent wage gains have not spurred higher inflation. Average hourly earnings have improved 1.7% over the last 12 months, a solid gain from an increase of just 0.7% a year ago.

The Federal Reserve has been cautious on plans to increase interest rates, after four hikes to a key shortterm rate in 2018 after deficitfinanced tax cuts caused economic growth to accelerate. But amid signs of slowing growth despite robust hiring and a 4% unemployment rate, the relatively low level of inflation close to the Fed’s 2% target has reduced pressure to continue increasing rates.

“Inflation seems to be having a Goldilocks moment — essentially right on the Fed’s target, with little indication it will shift in either direction soon,” said Leslie Preston, a senior economist at TD Bank.

Excluding the volatile energy and food categories, core prices increased 0.2% for the fifth month in a row. For the third straight month, core prices were up 2.2% from a year ago.

On a monthly basis, clothing costs jumped 1.1%, the largest gain in 11 months. Medical care services rose 0.3% on a monthly basis, as did housing costs.