Prices rose 8.5% year on year, compared to 7.9% in February, according to the consumer price index (CPI) released Tuesday by the Labor Department.
March is the first month to fully integrate the effect of the war in Ukraine, which began in the very last days of February.
Thus, over one month, inflation amounted to 1.2%, against 0.8% in February.
Gasoline prices alone have soared 18.3% from last month, and account for more than half of inflation, adding to shortages of goods and labour.
The prices of housing and food also contribute to this increase, specifies the Department of Labor.
However, excluding energy and food prices, so-called core inflation slowed compared to February, to 0.3% versus 0.5%.
Over one year, on the other hand, it accelerated, and reached 6.5%, its highest level since August 1982.
The White House had taken the lead on Monday, warning that inflation would be "extraordinarily high", and on Tuesday announced a series of initiatives aimed at increasing the use and production of biofuel, in the hope of bringing down prices. at the pump.
It has now been a year since inflation, which reduces household purchasing power, has been above the 2% target of the American central bank (Fed).
The month of March is even the 6th in a row to record a price increase of more than 6%.
The CPI index is the one on which pensions are indexed, in particular.
The Fed favors another indicator, the PCE index, which rose to 6.4% over one year in February.
© 2022 AFP