Boston prices inch up

For the two month period ending Sept. 30, Boston area prices rose 0.4 percent, largely due to higher apparel costs resulting from the introduction of women's fall fashions, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in a report today.

To a lesser extent, the increase was attributed to a rise in prices for food, beverages, and medical care, though a decline in gas prices moderated the bimonthly increase, said the bureau, which is part of the US Department of Labor.

For the two month period, apparel costs rose 10.8 percent as women's fall fashion lines arrived in stores, the bureau said.

Since September 2006, the bureau's consumer price index for the Boston area rose 1.5 percent as did core inflation, the bureau said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)