Rent, natural gas costs push metro area prices up

Prices in the metropolitan area increased in June compared with a year ago because of higher costs for residential rent and natural gas.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday reported its consumer price index for the 31-county region that includes Long Island rose 1.8 percent last month from June 2012. The year-over-year increase was the largest since March.

The cost of shelter climbed 2.2 percent in June compared with a year earlier as residential rents gained 3 percent, according to Martin Kohli, the bureau's chief regional economist.

Prices for natural gas and gasoline rose 6.1 percent and 0.8 percent, year over year, respectively. Groceries were up 2 percent and medical care, 3.5 percent.