Inflation Rate Is Worst in 17 Years

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Higher costs for energy and food last year pushed
inflation up by the largest amount in 17 years, even though prices
generally remained tame outside of those two areas. Meanwhile,
industrial output was flat in December, more evidence of a significant
slowdown in the economy. Consumer prices rose by 4.1 percent for all of
2007, up sharply from a 2.5 percent increase in 2006, the Labor
Department said Wednesday. Consumers felt the pain when they filled up
their gas tanks or shopped for groceries. Prices for both energy and
food shot up by the largest amount since 1990.