MoneyBusiness

Actions

Consumer prices slump 0.4% as virus puts chill on spending

Gas prices are falling fast
Posted
and last updated

WASHINGTON — Consumer prices fell 0.4% in March, the largest decline in five years, with the price of gasoline, airline fares and hotel rooms all down, indicating the coronavirus was having an impact.

The Labor Department said that last month's decline was the largest monthly drop since January 2015. Consumer prices had been up a slight 0.1 percent in February.

Energy costs were down 5.8% in March with gasoline prices falling by 10.5%. Airline fares plunged 12.6% while lodging away from home, the category for hotel and motel prices, dropped 6.8%.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Wednesday

12/31/2025

Showers

53° / 51°

78%

Thursday

01/01/2026

AM Showers

63° / 49°

45%

Friday

01/02/2026

Mostly Cloudy

64° / 53°

6%

Saturday

01/03/2026

Showers

60° / 52°

57%

Sunday

01/04/2026

Showers

57° / 49°

69%

Monday

01/05/2026

Mostly Cloudy

59° / 48°

24%

Tuesday

01/06/2026

Mostly Cloudy

55° / 45°

24%

Wednesday

01/07/2026

Partly Cloudy

54° / 43°

24%