U.S. consumer prices edge higher in May

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
U.S. consumer prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in May, mainly because of higher costs of housing, electricity and natural gas, the Labor Department said Tuesday
Energy prices rose 0.4% even though the cost of gasoline was flat in adjusted terms
Food prices dipped 0.1%
The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, rose 0.2%
Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast a 0.2% increase in the broad CPI and a 0.1% uptick in the core rate
Consumer prices have risen an unadjusted 1.4% in the past 12 months, and by 1.7% on a core basis
Real or inflation-adjusted hourly wages, meanwhile, fell by 0.2% in May
Real wages have risen a scant 0.5% over the past 12 months