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

Thursday

09/18/2025

Showers

81° / 69°

60%

Friday

09/19/2025

AM Clouds/PM Sun

85° / 69°

15%

Saturday

09/20/2025

Sunny

89° / 69°

3%

Sunday

09/21/2025

Mostly Sunny

90° / 70°

3%

Monday

09/22/2025

Mostly Sunny

94° / 73°

5%

Tuesday

09/23/2025

Mostly Sunny

95° / 69°

22%

Wednesday

09/24/2025

Sunny

90° / 67°

15%

Thursday

09/25/2025

Sunny

88° / 67°

1%