WASHINGTON Consumers paid more for energy, food and a host of other items in February as a sluggish economy failed to extinguish inflation pressures. But in a hopeful sign for growth, factory output posted a better-than-expected increase. The Labor Department reported Friday that the Consumer Price Index rose by 0.
4 percent last month, double the January increase, as energy prices shot up and adverse winter weather in Florida and California sent citrus prices soaring. The increase was larger than the 0.3 percent rise analysts had expected, although core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose by just 0.
2 percent, in line with forecasts. Even there, economists saw problems with widespread increases in a number of categories, including clothing, housing, education and medical care.
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