U.S. inflation surprisingly weak, Fed keeps low rates pledge

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices fell for the first time in nearly 1-1/2 years in August and underlying inflation pressures were muted, which could lessen the urgency for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

The Labor Department said on Wednesday its Consumer Price Index dropped 0.2 percent last month as a broad decline in energy prices offset increases in food and shelter costs.

It was the first decrease since April last year and followed a modest 0.1 percent gain in July. Economists had expected consumer prices would be flat in August.

"There is still enough slack in the economy to keep a tight lid on price increases, which should support the view of those within the Fed arguing in favor of patience before the first rate hike," said Anthony Karydakis, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak in New York.

The Fed, at the end of the two-day policy meeting, on Wednesday renewed a pledge to keep interest rates near zero for a "considerable time". However, it issued projections that suggested the U.S. central bank might raise borrowing costs a bit quicker than it had been thinking a few months ago.

Concerns at the Fed that inflation was running too low have abated in recent months, but the CPI data suggested an acceleration of prices during the spring may have run its course.

The CPI increased 1.7 percent in the 12 months through August, the smallest advance in five months, while a core index that strips out food and energy prices was up by the same amount, marking a slowdown from July's 1.9 percent gain.

Month-on-month, the core index was unchanged for the first time since October 2010. The Fed targets 2 percent inflation and tracks an index that is running even lower than the CPI.

Many economists think the central bank could raise interest rates as soon as next June, while interest rate futures point to July for the first rate hike. It has kept benchmark overnight lending rates near zero since December 2008.

WAGE GROWTH SLUGGISH

The dollar rallied against a basket of currencies on perceptions of a faster pace of rate hikes, touching its highest level since July last year. Prices for U.S. government debt fell. Stocks on Wall Street rose marginally.

While the economy appears to be on sustainable growth path, anemic wage growth is dampening price pressures. Average hourly earnings adjusted for inflation rose 0.4 percent in August. Even so, they have risen only by that same amount over the past year.

A second report showed homebuilder sentiment hit a near nine-year high in September, with builders reporting a sharp pickup in buyer traffic since early summer. The surge in confidence underscores the economy's firming fundamentals.

The upbeat housing report, and better-than-expected earnings from homebuilder Lennar Corp (LEN.N), pushed up housing stocks, which were solidly outperforming the broader market. The S&P homebuilding index (.SPLRCHOME) was up 3.65 percent.

"While an inflationary surge is not in the offing, with the economy continuing to recover in the second half, there is a better than even chance for a modest acceleration in inflation," said Steve Blitz, chief economist at ITG in New York.In August, energy prices fell for a second straight month, recording their biggest decline since March 2013. There were broad declines in energy prices, with the cost of gasoline falling by the most since April last year.

Food prices rose 0.2 percent after advancing 0.4 percent in July as the effects of a drought in California lingered.

A second straight month of sharp declines in airline fares dampened the core CPI. Falling apparel and used car prices also weighed. Recreation prices recorded their largest drop since December 2009, while household furnishings declined and college tuition and fees saw their biggest fall in almost 27 years.

While rents increased, the pace moderated a bit from July. Prices for alcoholic beverages posted their largest increase since January 2007.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci, Tim Ahmann and Chizu Nomiyama)