nur Benzin stark gestiegen,Inflationsgefahr dadurch verringert.Report wird heute um 8Uhr30 amerikanischer Zeit in Washington veröffentlicht
May 17 (Bloomberg) -- Higher gasoline costs probably pushed U.S. consumer prices up in April by the most in three months. Prices excluding fuel and food are forecast to rise less than a month earlier, pointing to tame inflation that may give the Federal Reserve room to stop raising interest rates.
The consumer price index rose 0.5 percent in April after a 0.4 percent gain the prior month, according to the median forecast of 72 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News ahead of a government report today. Core prices, which exclude fuel and food, probably rose 0.2 percent after a 0.3 percent March gain that was the most in a year.
Competition has so far kept many companies from fully passing on higher energy costs. Recent data on wholesale costs and import prices showed limited inflation, which economists said makes it easier for central bankers to suspend their almost two- year campaign of raising interest rates.
``Some companies have been able to raise prices, but in general, we haven't seen core prices move up much in response to higher costs,'' said Mike Moran, chief economist at Daiwa Securities America Inc. in New York. ``Core prices are at the upper end of the Fed's comfort range, so they're going to feel the need to stay alert'' for signs inflation is accelerating.
The Labor Department will release the consumer price report at 8:30 a.m. in Washington. Forecasts in the survey ranged from 0.4 percent to 0.9 percent. Estimates for increases in the core ranged from 0.1 percent to 0.3 percent. Yesterday, a government report showed producer prices excluding food and energy rose 0.1 percent for a second month, less than forecast by economists. The costs of imported goods excluding petroleum edged up 0.1 percent in April, the Labor Department said May 12. ...Unleaded gasoline at the pump averaged $2.74 a gallon in April, up from $2.42 a gallon in March, according to figures from the Energy Department. Retail gasoline climbed in April to the highest since September's record $3.069 a gallon, following Hurricane Katrina. While inflation appears to be contained now, higher costs for energy and other commodities pose a risk that they will be passed on to consumers. Some companies are already having limited success. |
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