By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The underlying rate of U.S. inflation accelerated by the fastest pace in four months in January, the Labor Department said Friday. The consumer price index increased 0.2%, driven by the first increase in gasoline prices since September. Food prices rose 0.2 % for the second straight month. The core CPI index, excluding food and energy costs, was up 0.2% in January. Economists were expecting the CPI to rise 0.3% in January after remaining flat in the prior month. The core rate was expected to rise 0.2% after rising 0.1% in the previous month.
