LINDA STOUFFER, CNN ANCHOR: The Labor Department is telling us how much more we paid for goods and services last month. The Consumer Price Index has just been released. We're going live to Washington and CNN's Bob Beard for more. Hello, Bob.</s>BOB BEARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning. Yes, the February Consumer Price Index up one half of 1 percent, up 0.5 percent. That is the strongest jump in almost a year, but about in line what Wall Street analysts had been expecting. Most of the increase on higher food and, of course, energy prices. The core Consumer Price Index with those excluded rose just 2/10 of 1 percent, the same as in January and about in line with what Wall Street was thinking. Gas prices -- get this -- we're paying it at the pump -- up 6.3 percent, the largest jump since April; heating oil up 34.6 percent. That is a record. Housing prices were also up because of fuel costs, up a half a percent. And food prices jumped 4/10 of 1 percent, the largest increase in a year and a half, led by pork and fruit prices. Airline fares, if you're getting ready to jump on a plane this morning, are also -- were also up last month, up 3.8 percent, reflecting those rising fuel prices. Back to you.</s>STOUFFER: Well, Bob, now that we have the numbers, what could all of this mean for the stock market today?</s>BEARD: Well, most analysts and economists are saying that inflation still remains pretty muted, pretty subtle, and that should be good news for Wall Street today. No big surprises, and the Dow and the Nasdaq don't like surprises, and should not affect the markets in any way today. It might lead to another rally. We'll just have to wait and see.</s>STOUFFER: Bob, thank you. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
February CPI Shows Consumer Prices Higher