Wall Street Journal (05/22/15) Jeffrey Sparshott; Kate Davidson

Consumer prices increased for the third consecutive month in April, a sign inflation is stabilizing. The consumer-price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in April from March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Excluding the energy and food categories, core prices rose 0.3%, the biggest increase since January 2013. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast overall prices would rise 0.1% and core prices would increase 0.2%.

Compared with a year ago, overall prices declined 0.2% and core prices climbed 1.8%.

The consumer-price index began declining mid-2014, largely due to falling crude oil prices. A strong dollar also has restrained prices by holding down the cost of imported goods and services.