The Labor Department's inflation report for the month of December showed that food and energy prices were the primary drivers of stubborn inflation experienced by consumers.

The consumer price index, the cost shoppers pay for a wide range of goods and services, rose faster than expected in December but core items did not make the same jump, according to the latest report

Inflation probably picked up in late 2024, fueled by robust household spending amid a strong economy. A key gauge of inflation — the consumer price index — is expected to show Wednesday morning that prices rose by 2.9 percent in December from a year earlier, according to economists’ forecasts of data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.