Metro area consumer prices rise in April

Prices in the metropolitan area increased moderately last month, with the cost of health care, groceries and gasoline rising the most.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday its consumer price index climbed 2.4 percent in April compared with a year ago in the 31-county region that includes Long Island. That was down from a 2.6 percent year-over-year increase in March.

Month over month, prices were up 0.2 percent in April compared with March. The rise was largely due to gasoline, with pump prices climbing 3.2 percent from March, said Martin Kohli, the bureau's regional economist.