Gas, rent lead metro area prices up in September

Prices edged up in the metropolitan area last month with large increases for gasoline and rent.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday its consumer price index climbed 1.6 percent in September from a year ago in the 31-county region that includes Long Island. Inflation was last at this level, year over year, in June.

The index increased 1.4 percent in August compared with 2011.

Month over month, prices rose 0.4 percent in September compared with August.

Martin Kohli, chief regional economist at the statistics bureau, said the higher cost of clothing, gasoline and housing was behind much of the increase.

Pump prices climbed 4.4 percent between August and September. They were up 6.5 percent from a year ago.

Rents rose 2.5 percent last month compared with 2011. Medical care was up 4.8 percent, and clothing, 1.6 percent.