Consumer prices inch up

For the year that ended in July, Boston-area consumer prices rose only 0.8 percent, the smallest annual increase since 1994, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said today.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in the Boston metropolitan area increased 0.3 percent for the two-month period ending in July, said the bureau, which is part of the US Department of Labor.

The July increase was attributable to an increase within the housing category and to a lesser extent within the food-and-beverage category, the bureau said.

Eating out continued to be expensive as restaurant prices rose for the 10th consecutive bimonthly period and up 4.5 percent over the year, the bureau said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)