Consumer price index jumps on costlier gas

A man with a Santa cap looks up at a marquee with high gas prices at a Shell gas station in San Francisco. Consumer prices rose last month as the cost of gas increased by the largest amount since June 2009. But outside of energy costs, there was little sign of widespread inflation. AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File

WASHINGTON — Consumer prices rose last month as the cost of gas increased by the largest amount since June 2009. But outside of energy costs, there was little sign of widespread inflation.

The Labor Department said Friday the Consumer Price Index rose 0.5 percent in December, the larg...