Bloomberg (10/16/12) Alex Kowalski
The cost of living in the U.S. climbed in September for a second month, reflecting a jump in energy expenses that failed to trickle through to other goods and services. The U.S. Department of Labor’s consumer-price index rose 0.6% for a second month in a row. Economists polled by Bloomberg had forecast a 0.5% gain. Companies ranging from Abercrombie & Fitch to Safeway say price increases are difficult to achieve as 12.1 million Americans remain unemployed and rising fuel bills eat into employees’ paychecks.