The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3 percent in January, the first rise in six months, as gasoline prices stopped falling and retailers began raising prices after the start-of-the-year discounts, Bloomberg reported. But some Federal Reserve policy-makers still worry that prices could continue to decline this year, leading to deflation, a prolonged drop that would hurt lenders and company profits.

The rise in the cost of living, which matched analysts forecasts, was after a 0.8 percent fall in December, according to a Labor Department report. Excluding food and fuel, the core inflation rate was 0.2 percent last month due to price increases for automobiles, clothing and medical care.

Energy expenses were up 1.7 percent, with a 6 percent rise in gasoline prices after the price of fuel fell 50 percent over the last three months of 2008. Food prices rose only 0.1 percent.

Meanwhile, new vehicle prices and clothing costs both increased 0.3 percent and the cost of medical care rose 0.4 percent. Rents, which make up nearly 40 percent of the core consumer price index, also were up 0.3 percent.