U.S. inflation, new home sales and manufacturing on the rise

U.S. consumer prices increased in February, ending three consecutive months of declines, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index. The CPI rose 0.2 percent after a 0.7 percent drop-off in January.

Increases were noted in the costs of apparel, airfare, and new and used automobiles, while medical care services declined in cost for the first time since 1975, according to Reuters.

In a separate report, the Commerce Department said new home sales rose 7.8 percent last month, the highest level in seven years. The percentage represents a seasonally adjusted rate of 539,000 units sold during February.

Stateside manufacturing experienced a small uptick as well. London-based financial information services firm Markit reported a five-month high on the U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index of 55.3 in March, up from 55.1 in February.

Read more from Reuters.