New Delhi, May 12 -- US consumer prices rose more slowly in April than in the previous month. The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) climbed 0.6 per cent from March's 0.9 per cent jump, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Monday (local time).

Yearly inflation ticked up to 3.8 per cent for the 12 months ending April, from 3.3 per cent before.

Energy prices drove much of April's rise but cooled sharply. They jumped 3.8 per cent after a 10.9 per cent surge in March. Gasoline rose 5.4 per cent. Electricity went up 2.1 per cent and fuel oil 5.8 per cent. Natural gas dipped 0.1 per cent. Yearly, energy is up 17.9 per cent, with gasoline at 28.4 per cent.

Shelter costs rose 0.6 per cent. Owners' equivalent rent and rent each increased 0.5 per ce...