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The consumer price index climbed<\/a> by a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in March, pushing the annual inflation rate to 3.3% thanks to a surge in energy costs from the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. That was up from 2.4% inflation in February.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The energy index climbed 10.9% for the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday, its largest monthly gain since September 2005. At 21.2%, the March rise in gasoline prices was the steepest since the series began in 1967 and alone made up close to three-quarters of March’s total CPI gain. Fuel oil jumped 30.7%, its biggest monthly rise since February 2000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Strip out food and energy and the picture was calmer: The core index advanced 0.2% in March and 2.6% over the past year, according to CNBC<\/a>, missing the Dow Jones consensus estimate on both measures by 0.1 percentage point.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Food prices were flat in March after rising 0.4% in February. Grocery costs fell 0.2% for the month, with declines in meats, poultry, fish, and eggs \u2014 the egg index dropped 3.4% \u2014 as well as cereals, dairy, and nonalcoholic beverages. Fruits and vegetables rose 1.0%. The food index is up 2.7% over the past 12 months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Shelter costs increased 0.3% for the month and 3.0% from a year earlier. Airline fares rose 2.7% in March, and the apparel index gained 1.0%. Medical care commodities fell 1.0%, led by a 1.5% decline in prescription drugs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Over the past 12 months, the energy index is up 12.5%, with gasoline 18.9% higher and fuel oil up 44.2%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n