The consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.9 percent year-over-year in December, the largest annual increase since July. When stripping out the more volatile food and energy sectors, core inflation slowed to 3.2 percent, from 3.3 percent.

U.S. inflation accelerated last month as prices for gas, eggs, and used cars rose, yet underlying price pressures also showed signs of easing, bolstering hopes that the Federal Reserve could still cut its key interest rate this year.

The Labor Department released the inflation report for December which showed prices were up 2.9% from a year ago, in line with economists expectations and up from 2.7% in November.