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<p>WASHINGTON (AP) &#8212; U.S. consumer prices rose in January at the fastest pace in nearly four years, strengthening the case for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.</p><p>The Labor Department says consumer prices rose 0.6 percent last month, most since February 2013. A 7.8 percent jump in gasoline prices accounted for almost half the increase. Stripping out volatile food and energy prices, consumer inflation rose 0.3 percent.</p><p>Overall, consumer prices rose 2.5 percent from a year earlier, most since March 2012.</p><p>After remaining low following the 2007-2009 Great Recession, inflation is running above the Fed&#8217;s 2 percent annual target.</p><p>The Fed left a key interest rate unchanged at its Jan. 31-Feb. 1 meeting. It said it needs more time to monitor the economy but still expects to raise rates gradually.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_115059322-9818d1f2ff34414d9a03a5c4669d4503.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A sale sign is displayed in a J.C. Penney store in Pittsburgh. On Wednesday, the Labor Department reports on U.S. consumer prices for January. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_115059322-9818d1f2ff34414d9a03a5c4669d4503.jpg</photo0><caption0>A sale sign is displayed in a J.C. Penney store in Pittsburgh. On Wednesday, the Labor Department reports on U.S. consumer prices for January. </caption0><photoCredit0>Gene J. Puskar | AP Photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Paul Wiseman</p><p>AP Economics Writer</p></bylineMeta></div>

U.S. consumer prices post biggest rise in nearly 4 years