March CPI shows food outpacing overall inflation

WASHINGTON Consumer prices for food outpaced overall inflation slightly in March as the government’s monthly Consumer Price Index rose 0.9 percent before seasonal adjustment, but was up 4.0 percent from March 2007, federal authorities reported Wednesday.

Overall, the Labor Department said, the price consumers paid for food and beverage items rose 4.4 percent in March compared with year-ago levels for the month, including a 4.7-percent rise in the price of food at