Fuel prices drive up inflation in United States

US inflation accelerated last month as gas prices spiked.

The consumer price index rose 3.4% last month compared with a year ago, the Labour Department said Friday, just like July. But inflation quickened month to month as costs jumped 0.4% from July, quadrupling the 0.1% registered in the previous month.

Petrol prices jumped 3.9% month-to-month, accounting for one-third of the overall inflation increase in August.