Real Estate Journal - "Upticks in Home Starts, Inflation Are Seen as an Aberration" (1-22-07)

"A bump up in energy prices caused consumer prices to rise 0.5% in December from a month earlier after remaining flat or falling in the three previous months, the Labor Department reported yesterday. Excluding food and energy, so-called core prices -- a measure officials at the Federal Reserve watch closely -- rose 0.2%, in line with economists' expectations, as apparel retailers ratcheted back holiday discounts. Compared with a year earlier, overall prices rose 2.5% and core prices were up 2.6%."