Consumer energy costs rose 1.0 pct in March following a moderate rise last month the Labor Department said. The March increase in the overall energy costs including petroleum coal and natural gas followed a 3.0 pct rise in January and a 1.9 pct rise in February it said. However energy prices were 5.6 pct below year-ago levels. The departments Consumer Price Index showed that the cost of gasoline rose in March by 2.3 pct after a 4.2 pct rise in February. Gasoline prices were nonetheless 5.9 pct below their levels as of March 1986. Also the category including fuel oil coal and bottled gas rose in March by 1.4 pct putting it 9.0 pct under the year-ago figure. The index also showed that natural gas and electricity were unchanged last month but down 3.1 pct from the March 1986 figure the department said. The index has been updated to reflect 1982-84 consumption patterns. Previously the index was based on 1972-73 patterns.
U.S. ENERGY COSTS ROSE IN MARCH BY 1.0 PCT