U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5 percent in June on seasonally adjusted basis, the biggest increase in four months, the Labor Department reported on Tuesday.
The energy prices jumped 3.4 percent last month, with gasoline prices rose sharply by 6.3 percent. Food prices also moved up by 0.2 percent.
Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, the so-called "core" inflation index rose 0.2 percent in June.
The CPI has risen 1.8 percent in the 12 months ending June, below the Federal Reserve's target inflation rate of 2 percent.
Economists monitor core prices to get a sense of broader inflation trends, a key barometer for monetary policy decision of the central bank. /.